Ex-ambassador of Georgia: Georgian invasion to Abkhazia was prepared in April-May

Back in April 2008 the Georgian leadership was preparing the warfare in Abkhazia, having invited trainers from Israel; this was announced today by Erosi Kitsmarishvili, former ambassador of Georgia to Russia, at a sitting of the ad hoc parliamentary commission, which was set up for studying the August crisis in the Caucasus.

"The operation was finally appointed on the end of May, but subsequently it was cancelled," said Mr Kitsmarishvili, having added that these plans were discussed at his presence by President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili.

According to the correspondent of the "Vzglyad" (Outlook) newspaper, the ex-ambassador has also declared that in March Saakashvili announced his plans to move the capital from Tbilisi to Sukhumi in August 2008.

According to the statement of the former ambassador of Georgia to Russia, he also had confirmed information that the Russian Federation was getting ready to attack Georgia, the "Georgia Online" reports.

"In particular, a decision was made to attack the Kodori Gorge to liberate it from Georgian law enforcers," said Kitsmarishvili. In his words, "the attack on the Kodori was postponed after a persistent request of the Abkhazian party related to the approaching tourist season."

Let us note here that Erosi Kitsmarishvili's interrogation takes place in rather tense environment. The "Interfax" reports that they plan to make sittings closed.

Mr Kitsmarishvili is thought to be a rather influential figure. Being the founder of the Georgian TV Company "Rustavi-2", he played a major role in the "rose revolution" of 2003, as a result of which Mikhail Saakashvili took power.