At UN,
Near-Snuff Film of Russian Peacekeepers in Georgia, Helicopter Murky
Byline:
Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS,
October 31 -- What appeared to be a snuff film was screened Wednesday in the
UN's press briefing room, with running commentary by Georgia's Ambassador Irakli
Alasania. He said the footage showed Russian peacekeepers attacking Georgian
soldiers, forcing them onto the ground at gunpoint, handcuffing them to
stationary vehicles. All this took place, he said, in a peace camp near
Ganmukhuri. Suddenly Georgian president Saakashvili appears to free the Georgia
soldiers. "Where did you get this footage?" Amb. Alasania was asked. He answered
that the Russian troops had tried to take a Georgia television reporters tapes,
but that this reporter, "courageously," had recouped not only his tape, but also
a more damning one filmed by the Russians themselves. Video
here,
from Minute 2:24.
UN peacekeepers talk Georgia, snuff film
not shown
Inner
City Press asked Amb. Alasania how this would impact talks between Georgia and
Abkhaz authorities, and about Russia's charge that Georgia has fired at a
Russian peacekeeper helicopter. Video
here,
from Minute 9:10. Amb. Alasania portrayed the Georgia - Abkhaz talks as going
well, but imperiled by Russia's actions. Georgia has declared Russian General
Sergei Chaban to be persona non grata. In fact, they say he is already in the
country illegal, that his mandate expired in February 2006. Amb. Alasania said
he was not aware of the helicopter shooting issue. Reports are spreading, from
here
to
here.
We will await Georgia's response, and also Russia's review of Wednesday's snuff
film. Watch this site, including for surprising recent interview with UN
Peacekeeping official about Georgia.
* * *
Click
here for a
Reuters
AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army.
Click
here
for an earlier
Reuters AlertNet
piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's
$200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund. Video
Analysis here
Feedback: Editorial
[at] innercitypress.com
UN Office: S-453A,
UN, NY 10017 USA Tel: 212-963-1439
Reporter's mobile
(and weekends): 718-716-3540
Other, earlier Inner
City Press are listed here, and
some are available in the ProQuest service.
Copyright 2006-07 Inner City Press, Inc. To request
reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com -
UN Office: S-453A,
UN, NY 10017 USA Tel: 212-963-1439
Reporter's mobile
(and weekends): 718-716-3540
