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Saakashvili says Russia has plans to destroy Georgia

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"Certain forces in Russia decided that this autumn is the last time when it is still possible to stop the process of Georgia's formation," Saakashvili said.
TBILISI, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Friday that certain forces in Russia were implementing three plans to ruin Georgia.

Relations between the former Soviet states have been strained in recent months over the presence of Russian peacekeepers in conflict zones involving two self-proclaimed republics in Georgia and other issues, including a Russian ban on the import of Georgian mineral water and wine.

"Certain forces in Russia decided that this autumn is the last time when it is still possible to stop the process of Georgia's formation," Saakashvili said.

He said the first plan to ruin Georgia "was a full economic embargo and blockade of Georgia."

Wine and mineral water imports from Georgia were banned from sale in Russia in the spring of this year over an alleged failure to meet Russia's hygienic standards.

Saakashvili said the main aim of this plan was to bring people out onto the streets, "and in the end the authorities will be overthrown, and people will refuse independence and the restoration of our territorial integrity."

"They received nothing of the kind," he said. "Moreover, this year economic growth in Georgia will be twice that of Russia's, despite all of its income from crude."

He said the second plan called for an "international propaganda blockade," or distortion of information about events in the country.

"It also failed. Yesterday, the World Bank announced that Georgia topped a list of 200 countries in terms of reform and the liberal development of the economy," Saakashvili said.

The Georgian president added that some forces in Russia also pinned their hopes on "Georgian collaborators," but that this plan also failed.

The Georgian interior minister said Wednesday the country's law enforcement agencies had information that supporters of controversial former Georgian minister and security chief Igor Giorgadze were preparing to overthrow the government, and were making arrangements for Giorgadze's return from exile.

In all, 29 people were detained in raids in Georgia, and 14 individuals who remained in custody Thursday were officially charged.

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