Georgia Accuses Russia over Abkhazia

Georgia has objected to a letter sent by the Russian Justice Ministry to Georgian and Abkhazian officials outlining plans to cooperate with the unrecognized republic of Abkhazian authorities in extraditing Russian citizens. Tbilisi accused Russia of attempting to “legitimize separatism” in a note of protest presented to Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav Kovalenko. Georgian Justice Minister Nika Gvaramia was the first to voice the country's objections, speaking at a special briefing that was broadcast live on all Georgian television channels. He claimed that Russia “rudely violated Georgia's sovereignty.”

The scandalous letter was sent to the Georgian Justice Ministry on February 5. Georgian officials did not explain why they objected to it only yesterday. A Russian Foreign Ministry official commented that Georgia “has objected to something that was previously taken to be obligatory.” [More]