(((How interesting to see nation-states learn to behave as effectively
the Russian mafia has been behaving for decades now.
In the continuing era of state-failure and the Giant Kosova strategy,
we can expect to see a host of neologisms emerging: "state terror,"
"state gangsterism," "the language of provocation and blackmail,"
protection rackets and shakedowns newly spun as state anti-terror and state anti-crime activities.)))
RUSSIA
GEORGIAN BUSINESSES TARGETED IN MOSCOW RAIDS. Police officials from
the economic-crimes unit in Moscow took a number of retaliatory steps
against Georgia and Georgian economic interests on October 3, Ekho
Moskvy radio and Western news agencies reported the same day. Police
raided the Georgian Embassy's guest house in the city center,
claiming that it was being run illegally and that the building in
fact belonged to the state-owned Melodia music company. Moscow city
authorities said they confiscated 500,000 bottles of Georgian wine
that managed to evade a Russian import ban imposed earlier this year.
Two popular Georgian restaurants in Moscow could be closed for
irregularities concerning the wine they serve to customers, ITAR-TASS
reported. Police also closed a casino, Krystall, claiming that it was
controlled by Georgian criminals and could not provide clear
documentation for its gambling tables and slot machines, newsru.com
reported. FF
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS CONCERNED ABOUT HARASSMENT OF GEORGIANS IN
RUSSIA... Lyudmila Alekseyeva, president of the International
Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, told Ekho Moskvy on October 4
that police are arresting members of several Georgian families from
their Moscow homes "simply on nationality grounds." There is no
official confirmation of the report. The people targeted, Alekseyeva
said, are members of families that fled the bloody conflict in
Abkhazia at the beginning of the 1990s and have lived in the same
building in Moscow since. Since the start of the current crisis
between Russia and Georgia last week, there has been a flood of
Russian media reports about Georgian criminality. Roin Konjaria, vice
president of the Moscow Georgian Community, a social and educational
organization, told "The Moscow Times" on October 3 that between
150,000 to 200,000 Georgians currently live in Moscow and some
500,000 throughout Russia. FF
...AS GEORGIAN COMMUNITY WAITS OUT CRISIS. Georgian citizens in
Russia have expressed concern over the worsening tension between the
two countries. "The Moscow Times" quoted Georgian social activist
Joni Kvaratskhelia, head of the Lazare youth organization in Moscow,
as saying that "this affects every Georgian. We're having unfriendly
relations with Russia, yet we have a lot of Russian friends. It's
uncomfortable to view one another as enemies." Kvaratskhelia said the
organization has received numerous calls from Georgians in Moscow
looking for advice. Interfax on October 3 quoted State Duma Speaker
Boris Gryzlov as saying that the Russian parliament is taking steps
to block bank transfers between Russia and Georgia. The sanctions
could severely disrupt trade between Georgia and its biggest trading
partner and create enormous hardship for the families of Georgian and
Russian citizens who regularly send money to their relatives in
Georgia. FF
FOREIGN MINISTER RULES OUT SWIFT END TO SANCTIONS ON GEORGIA...
Sergei Lavrov on October 3 ruled out a rapid end to the sanctions
Russia has implemented against Georgia, RIA Novosti reported. Lavrov
said the suspension of transport and mail links was aimed in part at
preventing money flows from Russia being used to fund a Georgian
military buildup, according to the news agency. Lavrov said Georgia
is expanding its military so it can forcibly regain control of its
two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which receive
significant support from Russia, "The New York Times" reported.
Lavrov said Georgia's seizure of the four Russian officers last week
was only "one episode in an anti-Russian campaign" pursued by
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, and that simply handing back
the officers was not sufficient to change Moscow's mind about
sanctions, the "Financial Times" reported. Lavrov was quoted as
saying that "we don't want everything to be as it was before, because
everything was very bad." He added that money being sent from Russia
to Georgia included the proceeds of organized crime, and had been
used to fund arms purchases and pay for the call-up of military
reservists. FF
...AND SUGGESTS U.S., NATO BACKED GEORGIA. Foreign Minister Lavrov on
October 4 also suggested that Georgia arrested the Russian officers
with the tacit encouragement of the United States and NATO, which
agreed last month on a schedule for negotiations on Georgia's
potential membership in the military alliance, "The New York Times"
reported. Russian and Western news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying
that "the seizure of our officers immediately followed, I repeat,
NATO's decision to grant Georgia an intense cooperation plan,
'Intensified Dialogue.'" Lavrov added that NATO's step followed a
recent visit to Washington by Georgian President Saakashvili. Lavrov
was quoted as saying that the Russian leadership "certainly makes
note of the assurances of our American colleagues that they have
constantly tried to keep the Georgian leadership from [committing]
abrupt acts, but the chronology was the way I have just explained: A
visit to Washington, NATO's decision, the taking of hostages." FF
