255
decree had profound consequences over the peoples of the North Caucasus and the
volunteers began to arrive in Abkhazia via mountain paths.
608
The local authorities, much as they feared uncontrollable mass movements
of North Caucasian peoples, could not stop the volunteers.
609
However, in order to
show their concern the issue and to control the population, the leaders of Adygea,
Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and North Osetian Republics,
Krasnodar and Stavropol Krais and Rostov oblast held an extraordinary meeting in
Armavir, Krasnodar, on 22 August 1992. At that meeting they blamed Georgia
with causing the armed clashes and adopted an appeal to the Russian President. To
submit this report to Moscow a special delegation was also formed.
610
Moreover it
was decided to take urgent measures to provide humanitarian aid to the peoples of
Abkhazia. In order to ensure security and cooperation in the North Caucasus, they
also decided to form a permanent committee, consisting of the top leaders of the
executive and legislative bodies of national-state and territorial formations.
611
Such a turn of events was extremely unwelcome to the Georgian and
Russian governments. Shevardnadze denied all responsibilities for the military
608
“Unarmed and armed volunteers going to Abkhazia,” SWB SU/1467, C2/3, 24 August 1992;
“Mountain Peoples to take Abkhazia by any Methods,” SWB SU/1470, C1/1-2, 27 August 1992. In
his press Conference in Moskov on 23 March 1993, Taraz Shamba, a leader of the Aydgylara, said,
“380 people from the North Caucasian republics were fighting on the Abkhazian side. See “Over
700 Abkhaz had been killed and over 1200 wounded,” SWB SU/1646, B/4, 25 March 1993. At the
height of the armed struggle the number of the Confederation troops was around 500, but for a
“war” at that size it was a serious amount of force to change the course of the war.
609
“Adygey deputy leader warns that Moscow could alienate North Caucasian people,” SWB
SU/1469, C3/1-2, 26 August 1992.
610
This delegation meets with Russian Vice-President Aleksandr Rutskoy in Moscow on 21 August
and handed over their appeal to Yeltsin and Khasbulatov. See, “Rutskoy receives delegation from
North Caucasus republics,” SWB SU/1467, C2/2, 24 August 1992
611
“Leaders of north Caucasian republics hold emergency meeting,” SWB SU/1466, C2/3, 22
August 1992.
256
action in Abkhazia and following the unsuccessful attack staged on Gadauta, the
Georgian State Council, after its extraordinary session announced local
mobilization of the reservists into the national army on 23 August.
612
Shevardnadze evaluated the above-mentioned decree of the Confederation
as a declaration of war and urged the Russian authorities to take resolute measures.
Otherwise, he said, “the events surrounding the situation in Abkhazia may grow a
local conflict into a global confrontation.”
613
Thus, on 24 August, Shevardnadze and Yeltsin sum up the situation on a
telephone conversation and decided to meet on 3 September 1992 in Moscow.
614
According to the Georgian State Council’s press service, “the two men condemned
the activities of the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus which has
announced its intention to defend the Abkhaz people.”
615
Shevardnadze defined the
decisions and actions of the Confederation as a gross intervention into Georgia’s
internal affairs and asked Yeltsin to take responsibility over the borders and to
close them to the ‘armed gangs’ from the North Caucasus sneaking into the
Georgian territory.
616
This conversation changed the course of Russian involvement in the war.
617
On 25 August, the Russian Federation Ministry of Justice issued a statement where
612
‘State Council announces local mobilization,’ SWB SU/1468, C1/1, 25 August 1992.
613
“Mountain Peoples advance: report military success,” SWB SU/1469, C3/1 26 August 1992. .
614
“Yeltsin and Shevardnadze talks on Abkhazia confirmed,” SWB SU/1470, i, 27 August 1992.
615
“Yeltsin and Shevardnadze discus situation in Abkhazia,” SWB SU/1469, C3/3, 26 August 1992.
616
“Shevardnadze to meet Yeltsin: State Council considers Abkhazian situation,” SWB SU/1470,
C1/2-3, 27 August 1992
617
At the beginning of the crisis Moscow chose to remain passive. The Russian government just
released a statement on 18th August calling on the peoples of the northern Caucasus to display
patience and good sense and abstain from actions that can further destabilise the situation in the
region. See, SWB SU/1464, C1/2, 20 August 1992.And then a delegation of Russian deputies, under
the leadership of the Sergei Baburin visited region. But the position of the Baburin as an opposition
leader had no positive effects on the government’s policies.
257
it declared that the actions of the Confederation were a gross violation of the
constitution of the Russian Federation. The Ministry accused the Confederation of
claiming the role of the legal bodies of state power. The Confederation’s attempts
to create a parliament, defence council and armed forces, the establishment of the
post of commander-in-chief, the adoption of documents calling for the commission
of terrorist acts were accepted as the proofs.
618
The investigation of the case was
entrusted to the prosecutor’s office investigation department. Investigation group,
made up of officers from the ministries of Security and Internal Affairs, started to
investigate the issue.
619
In addition, the acting prosecutor of Kabardino-Balkaria
issued a statement addressing to the leadership of the Confederation where he
stressed that the decree signed by the Confederation’s leaders on 21 August
declaring Tiflis a disaster zone is unlawful. He demanded the Confederation to
cease its unlawful actions.
620
Moreover, Russian internal troops and frontiersmen
took the control of the frontier with Georgia and they established checkpoints and
frontier posts to control the illegal crosses of borders.
621
While the judicial bodies of the Russian Federation were working on the
legality of the decisions and actions of the Confederation, President Yeltsin
convened a summit on Abkhazia on 3 September 1992 in Moscow. As a
constructive response, Shanibov declared that from 1 to 4 September, the CMPC
has stopped sending volunteers to Abkhazia. And, the result of the talks would be
618
“Mountain Peoples acting outside the law according to Russian Justice Ministry,” SWB SU/1470,
C1/2, 27 August 1992.
619
“Proceedings against Confederation of Mountain People instituted,” SWB SU/1471, C1/2, 28
August 1992.
620
“Kabardin-Balkaria judiciary chief denounces Caucasus confederation,” SWB SU/1474, C1/1, 1
September 1992.
Dostları ilə paylaş: |