Georgia begins to miss Russia

   

                   Mikhail Saakashvili is being interviewed by "Le Figaro"

     

On the 22^nd of November „Le Figaro” published an interview with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili with a title “Georgia stretches its hand to Russia”. The next day Saakashvili held a speech at Euro-Parliament, having reported his readiness to start the negotiations with Russia “at any given place and time, on any level and without any preconditions whatsoever”.  

            Such peacemaking behavior of a usually extremely bellicose pal of late Polish President Kaczynski may have caused certain questions but only among the poorly-informed Europeans. Everyone who carefully watched the development of Russo-Georgian relationship should be perfectly aware of the things that called forth these abrupt changes in the position of Georgian leader. Few days ago I’ve already written about Georgian auction on the Russian WTO membership. Today we may get some new information on that matter.

            It turns out that it is Vasiliy Anisimiv — one of the “Metalloinvest[1]” shareholders — who became the entrusted mediator in the Russo-Georgian reconciliation. Annual turnover of this holding company makes up $6.47 billion. Well-known businessman Alisher Usmanov is its majority shareholder — he owns 50% of its stock. Mr. Anisimov at the same time owns 20%. It was him who secretly met Mikhail Saakshvili in London this November. Restoration of diplomatic ties between two countries was the topic of this meeting. Of course, a lot depends on Vladimir Putin’s comeback to Kremlin in 2012, as long as acting Prime Minister can’t stand Saakashvili, who is not much of a Vladimir Putin fan either. But when something more important than the personal offences is at stake — say, WTO membership — everything’s possible.

            Mr. Anisimov seemingly has some aces up his sleeve — the ones that can force Saakashvili to cooperate. Anisimov was a business-partner of Arkady “Badri” Patarkatsishvili — Georgian billionaire, who suddenly died in Great Britain in the beginning of 2008 under the weird circumstances. Until now Anisimov remained certain share of influence over the “Salford” investment fund Patarkatsishvili found. It possesses a capital of $2.5 billion. For not too wealthy Georgia this is not a small change at all. Salford owns the biggest Georgian cell phone carrier “Magticom” and the manufacturer of a famous mineral water “Borzhomi” that lost its Russian market due to the war in South Ossetia. Seemingly it is the Patarkatsishvili’s heritage that can secure the Anisimov’s negotiations with the President of Georgia. We may suggest that Anisimov got the Kremlin’s silent consent for such informal steps. Due to the leaks in the Russian press media, it is well-known that this 59-year-old billionaire is closely connected with President Medvedev’s surrounding. And to all appearance, the latter is willing to personally achieve the WTO membership status for Russia.

Vasiliy Anisimov – the said peacemaker

Arkady “Badri” Patarkatsishvili – former master of Georgia

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[1] Russian metal-mining giant