Georgian politics may lose predictability with death of PM – Russian expert

RIA news agency
3 Feb 05

MOSCOW

With the death of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Georgian
politics may lose an important element of predictability, according to
Konstantin Zatulin, a State Duma deputy and director of the Institute
of CIS Countries.

“On the whole, Georgian politics has lost an important
element. Zhvania was less prone to emotions. He was more pragmatic and
predictable than the Georgian president, who is more prone to
superficial effects and populist moves,” Zatulin told RIA-Novosti.

“The situation inside Georgia and around Georgia has become more
complicated,” the expert said, predicting an exacerbation in
Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts.

“In particular, changes of policy may affect the conflict zones. I
think [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili will be daring. Zhvania
would have preferred more subtle ways,” Zatulin said. He recalled that
it had been Zhvania who had conducted peace talks with both Abkhazia
and South Ossetia.

“One of the most capable and active behind-the-scenes figures of the
triumvirate that came to power as a result of the rose revolution is
gone,” Zatulin said in conclusion.