Last week, Georgia’s special services found out the conspiracy against Mikhail Sahakashvili. In the Karelian region, located near the Georgian-Osetian conflict zone, they found an “Igla” zenith rocket missile. First, they said that they had found the missile hung from a tree and that it was “aimed towards president Sahakashvili’s aircraft”. Then they announced that it was in the water and fishermen had discovered it. Then, some sappers removed anything that may cause harm because the missile had arrived ready to strike and they couldn’t do anything else. Where was it directed towards? Why was it on one tree? Why was it in the water? Who had thought of that?
While in Germany with the German delegation, Minister of Defense of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili said to journalists without thinking twice:
“The “Igla” zenith rocket missile was sent from Russia or Osetia and, of course, this was done on purpose.”
According to him, the complex was located in a place where some helicopters pass by, including the president’s helicopter. In this case, the president’s helicopter was going to be the main target.
“Georgia’s army doesn’t train its soldiers with rocket missiles, so this proves that the missile was from the outside,” said Okruashvili.
The Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Vano Merabishvili, who was in Georgia at the time, called on all countries to help Georgia in investigating the “Igla”. He said during a press conference:
“The “Igla” tied to the tree was ready for battle and the sappers decided to destroy it after taking some photos and research.”
According to the minister, terrorists often use missiles like this. That’s why the ministry asked Russia, the U.S., Turkey, Germany, France and other countries’ special services to find out how the rocket missile made its way to the area near the Georgian-Osetian conflict zone.
“According to one of the people that we arrested for terrorism on February 1, 2005, these missiles can be found in the hands of some members of Tskhinvali’s group. The numbers on the “Igla” were erased, but the numbers may be clear again thanks to the photographs taken,” said the minister and called on the “Georgianaeronavigation” INC administration to not let such missiles make their way to Georgia until the investigation is over. The minister also said that he didn’t know which plane the “Igla” was aiming for, but he did say that the president of Georgia was flying in that direction. So what? The only thing that the special services are sure of is:
1. Either the Russians or Osetians were the ones using the “Igla”
2. It is quite possible that they were going to use it against Sahakashvili.
The rest, including if it was on the tree or in the water, is just a mystery.
Specialist in strategic issues Gogi Tavadze had difficulty in responding to the questions about this:
“It is hard to make any comment about these kinds of things. But I can say one thing for sure: that missile is serious weapon which can hit anything that flies. Nobody knows where they found the “Igla”. If it was hung from a tree, then couldn’t it transfer signals? The “Igla” can only be used mechanically. The Minister of Internal Affairs supposed that the owners of the “Igla” could not use the missile due to fog, or some other reason, but since it was sent ready for battle, they threw it in the water because it is advised to do that. But I have not read anything about that,” said Tavadze to “168 Hours”. In other words, “Igla” amongst the fog.