1 November 2004 -- The speaker of Georgia's parliament accused Russia today of applying a double standard to the issues of Abkhazia and separatism.
Speaking on Russia's Ekho Mosvky radio after meeting with senior Russian officials, Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burdzhanadze complained of the Russia approach to the problems of Abkhazia.
He said that Russia fights separatism on its own territory but, in Burdzhanadze's words, "feeds it" on Georgia's territory.
The provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s and have run their own affairs ever since, cultivating ties with Russia.
Russian forces have been fighting separatists in Russia's southern republic of Chechnya, which borders Georgia, for most of the past decade. Georgia regularly accuses Russian aircraft of violating its airspace.
(AP/AFP)
He said that Russia fights separatism on its own territory but, in Burdzhanadze's words, "feeds it" on Georgia's territory.
The provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s and have run their own affairs ever since, cultivating ties with Russia.
Russian forces have been fighting separatists in Russia's southern republic of Chechnya, which borders Georgia, for most of the past decade. Georgia regularly accuses Russian aircraft of violating its airspace.
(AP/AFP)