C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001343
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958:
DECL: 08/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, RU, GG 
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SOUTH OSSETIA--SITREP 3: RUSSIAN BOMBS FALL THROUGHOUT
GEORGIA
REF: TBILISI 1341
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

1. (C)
Begin Summary and Comment: Multiple bases, airports, and
Georgia's port of Poti were all bombed overnight by Russian
aircraft, with bombing continuing in the daylight hours of
August 9, with bombs hitting civilian targets in the Georgian
city of Gori. Reports of casualties continue to come in, most
still unreliable and unverifiable, but it is clear that
casualty numbers are growing. There were reportedly dozens
killed in Senaki and Poti. The government of Georgia has not
declared a state of emergency, but is limiting news being
aired on TV and has evacuated some key government buildings in
Tbilisi. The bombing is causing widespread fear in the
Georgian population. In South Ossetia, OSCE confirms that
artillery fire continued into the morning hours near
Tskhinvali. The MFA has released no new statements, and the
Ministry of Reintegration has said the Abkhaz de-facto
authorities have asked UNOMIG to immediately withdraw from
Kodori. This sitrep covers events that have transpired
overnight on August 8-9 in Georgia (reftel). End Summary and
comment.

2. (C)
President Saakashvili told the Ambassador in a late morning
phone call that the Russians are out to take over Georgia and
install a new regime. They will not stop at retaking South
Ossetia, but will move on Tbilisi. He fears the Russians will
never agree to a ceasefire. Saakashvili and the Georgian
leadership now believe that this entire Russian military
operation is all part of a grand design by Putin to take
Georgia and change the regime. Saakashvili said that the
Russian forces are now attacking Tskhinvali and the Georgian
forces are resisting. We believe the Georgians are out of air
defense supplies, which makes them vulnerable to Russian air
attacks. He also believes the Russians will soon attack and
try to seize the upper Kodori valley. Ominously, the Abkhaz
formally asked UNOMIG this morning to withdraw their
detachment in the Upper Kodori.

3. (C)
OSCE observers report that beginning at 0600 on August 9
Georgian artillery began shelling Tskhinvali and becoming
heavy after 0900 to the Southwest of the city. The JPFK
commander reported that ten of his Russian peacekeepers were
dead, and others were wounded. OSCE observers said that
Georgian aircraft were bombing the city at 1100 on August 8.
According to OSCE, there has been no visible presence of
Georgian forces in the city since 1500 on August 8 when they
withdrew. No accurate numbers of casualties are available and
no international organizations such as Red Cross are present
to assist with casualties.

4. (C)
Poloff called the MFA and was told that there are no new
statements since August 8, but confirmed that the Government
has not/not called a state of emergency. The MFA website:
www.mfa.gov.ge appears to have been hacked.

5. (C)
Deputy Minister of Reintegration Ruslan Abashidze told Poloff
that the situation in South Ossetia is the same as August 8,
with shelling coming from Java, but he believes Georgian
forces control the nearby villages. He said that Georgian
forces are in control of Tskhinvali and are inside the city.
Turning to the Abkhaz conflict he reported that the Abkhaz
side has asked UNOMIG to withdraw immediately from Kodori
(note: we have been unable to confirm request this with UNOMIG
but such a move indicated intended hostilities).

6. (C)
UNOMIG observers reported that all was quiet in the Zugdidi on
the evening of August 8, aside from Abkhaz moving 9 T-55
(1960,s Soviet era) tanks toward the cease-fire line.

7. (C)
Confirmed overnight (August 8-9) bombings include:
-- Vaziani, again. This former Soviet military base, which is
usually home to 4th Brigade is being used as a mobilization
site for reservists. It lies only a few kilometers east of
Tbilisi. Buildings were reportedly hit this time.
-- Senaki military base in west Georgia. This base is home to
the 2nd Brigade. Unconfirmed reports indicate 20 killed there.
-- The Port of Poti. Georgia's deepest port outside of
Ochamchire in Abkhazia. Several "flat racks" where ships are
loaded and unloaded were bombed, as was the nearby Coast Guard
station. Press reports indicate at least 15 people were
killed.

TBILISI 00001343 002 OF 002

-- Kopinari Airport near Kutaisi. This joint civilian and
military airport was also bombed. It is home to Su-25 fighters
and AN-2 Colt resupply aircraft.
-- Marneuli Airbase, approximately 40 km south of Tbilisi, was
bombed for the third time.
-- The city of Gori. Apparently, one attempt by Russian jets
to bomb an artillery position near Gori missed. A bomb landed
in town destroying some stores and abandoned buildings. No
casualties were reported in this attack. Georgian radio later
reported that Russian bombers attacked Gori early August 9,
attempting to knock out the last bridge linking the road
crossing Georgia from east to west as well as a communications
tower. President Saakashvili reported that at mid-day August
9, Russian planes had begun bombing housing blocks in Gori,
with hundreds of casualties, calling this "pure terror."
-- Upper Kodori was also bombed. Details are sketchy.

8. (C)
Additional unconfirmed reports include:
-- Sections of the railroad running from Poti toward Kutaisi
may have been bombed.
-- Dozens of police in Mestia (north west Georgia) have
mobilized and are moving toward the Russian border.
-- The Zugdidi road is open, and Georgian troops are moving
north toward Kodori.

9. (C)
On the economic front, the Government has been undertaking
contingency planning in case of a prolonged conflict. During
an August 8 meeting with the Ambassador, Prime Minister
Gurgenidze talked about his efforts to calm investors during
the current crisis. He noted that the economy had been
remarkably calm. There had been no change in the currency and
the stock exchange was working normally. Georgia had not
touched its Eurobond money, and natural gas and electricity
supplies were in good shape. The PM noted that the Georgians
were considering contingencies, especially with regard to
energy supplies, should the conflict continue. For example,
one major power plant had already shifted over to natural gas
from electricity and there are plans to import gas from
Turkey. The Georgians are also planning to stop exports of
electricity to Russia and have made arrangements to purchase
"off-peak" energy from Azerbaijan. Although investors were
nervous, the PM noted that there was no panic buying among the
population.

TEFFT