15 September 2008, 12:28
Okruashvili: Saakashvili's long intention was to attack South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Former Minister of Defence of Georgia Irakliy Okruashvili stated on September 14 that President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili had been planning for a long time a military operation with the aim to regain control over South Ossetia. According to his version, back in 2005 Georgia was developing plans of capturing Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Mr Okruashvili, who was provided political asylum by France and whom the latter refused to deport to Georgia, believes that President of Georgia failed to run the operation as he had planned, making it easier for Russian to give a counter-blow.
"Abkhazia was our strategic priority, but in 2005 we devised plans to capture both Abkhazia and South Ossetia," said Okruashvili. "The initial plan had assumed to operate in two directions and capture Tskhinvali, Rokskiy Tunnel and Dzhava."
Irakliy Okruashvili has also laid part of the guilt on the USA, which could not keep Saakashvili from "embodying his aggressive ambitions" and violating democratic norms. In his opinion, Saakashvili's days are numbered.
"Saakashvili's attack was only aimed to capture Tskhinvali, since he hoped that the States would block Russia's response through diplomatic channels... But when no US reaction followed, Saakashvili decided to send troops to the Rokskiy Tunnel, where they were tactically defeated by Russian army," Okruashvili added.
In Okruashvili's opinion, which is quoted by Reuters, President of Georgia could have ordered his troops to defend a number of key cities, however "he had allowed Russian troops to move deep into the country, aiming to avoid criticism and look a victim."
Washington, as he said, let Georgian leaders clearly understand that it would not support Georgian invasion into Ossetia: "When we met President Bush in May 2005, we were told directly: don't drift yourself into armed opposition, we wouldn't be able to render military help to you."
