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Georgia: 'Spies' Return, But Russia Suspends Transport, Postal Links

PRAGUE, October 3, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The Kremlin today suspended all transport and postal links with neighboring Georgia until further notice.

The sanctions, which come in retaliation for Georgia's detention last week of four Russian officers accused of spying, come despite Tbilisi's decision on October 2 to release the men to Russian custody.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov welcomed the intelligence officers home as heroes. "I congratulate you on returning to your homeland from Georgian captivity. I want to thank you for your courage, for your tenacity so typical of Russian officers, and for your honor," Ivanov said.

Despite the return of the officers, there are no flights connecting Russia and Georgia. Russia's chief carrier, Aeroflot, announced it was canceling all flights to Georgia through the end of October.

Transit by train, car, and boat has also been blocked.

Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nikoloz Natbiladze today confirmed the ban, which also affects the country's postal service.

"We received official notification about the introduction of restrictions on all kinds of ground transport, both cargo and passenger. I would like to stress that this is a violation of our bilateral agreement [with Russia], which does not include the option of changing it unilaterally," Natbiladze said.

Natbiladze added that, in spite of Russia's air carriers not flying to Georgia, the country's airspace will remain open to all Russian aircraft.

Financial Threat

Even more worrisome for Georgians is Moscow's threat to block money transfers from Georgians living and working in Russia to relatives back home. Later this week, Russian lawmakers will discuss a bill that could prevent Georgians from wiring money home.

Up to 1.5 million ethnic Georgians, both Russian and Georgian citizens, live and work in Russia. Only around 10,000 of them are legally registered.

Russian and Georgian officials disagree on how much money Georgian expatriates send home. Moscow says the figure could be up to $2 billion -- illicit earnings that bring no tax revenues to Russian coffers.

But Tbilisi says that is an exaggeration. Georgia's national bank recently said that in the first eight months of this year Georgians transferred $219 million back home.

Many Georgians working in Russia also face the threat of deportation. On October 2, the Federal Migration Service in Moscow detained 13 Georgian illegal immigrants.

This isn't the first time this year that Georgia has suffered because of Russian economic sanctions.

In spring 2006, Russia banned imports of wine, mineral water, and agricultural produce. Russia said there were health concerns with the products. Georgia said the reasons were political.

International Concern

In this current crisis, the European Union has appealed for calm and said that Russia's blockade is disproportionate.

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, the rotating chair of the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe -- which led negotiations to secure the release of the intelligence officers -- urged Russia to restore transport and postal links.

It is unclear how long the economic sanctions will last.

Speaking today to journalists in Moscow, Russian State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov said the sanctions are against Saakashvili's regime, not the Georgian people.

Georgia Moving West

Russia's relations with Georgia have deteriorated since Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili came into power in 2003.

The Georgian government has accused Russia of backing separatists in its two breakaway regions, the frozen conflicts of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

For its part, Russia is angry at Georgia's attempts to leave its orbit and join NATO.

Georgia seems to have few cards left to play. Speaking on October 2, parliament speaker Nino Burdjanadze said Georgia would fight the sanctions: "Georgia will for sure resist this blockade, but this is not the way that civilized countries should talk to each other."

(RFE/RL's Georgian Service contributed to this report)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org