UW-MUN

TBILISI, GEORGIA – Levan Gachechiladze, the primary political opponent of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, has begun broadcasting live on Georgian public television from the President’s Palace. He claims that President Saakashvili has been arrested for crimes against the state and is calling on the Russians to stop their attack and withdraw from Georgian territory. Speaking from the balcony of the Parliament building, he quelled protested by assuring them that Georgia was now free from the “Tyranny of the past”.

TBILISI, GEORGIA – After being fired upon by Georgian Security Forces, protesters here have broken through the security lines and begun charging Georgian Government buildings, some of the security forces appear to have joined them as well.

TBILISI, GEORGIA – Anti-Government demonstrations here have intensified and are being met with military and police forces. Military and Policy have responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons. The situation in Georgia has continued to deteriorate both domestically and internationally since supposed Georgian attacks in Abkhazia and the assassination of the Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs, Vano Merabishvili.

In light of the Russian invasion into Georgian territory, Georgia is now in full-scale engagement with Russian forces approaching Gori.
President Saakashvili made the following statement:
“We implore the international community, and especially the United Nations Security Council to respond to the unprovoked, illegal and belligerent Russian invasion of our country. At this time, contact with the Coast Guard vessel that had been towing the Joya del Oeste before it sunk has been lost. We are certain that this was no accident and Russian involvement should not be underestimated. We would like to reiterate our faith that the UN Security Council will accomplish more than they did in 2008.”

Georgia, Office of the President

TBILISI, GEORGIA - AP reporters in Tbilisi were tipped off by an unnamed government source that Russian forces have lost two jet fighters to antiaircraft fire near Gori. No further information is available at this time.

TBILISI, GEORGIA - The captain of a Ukrainian freighter docked in Poti, a large Georgian port, reported to his business that he had seen Russians enter the city at about 1400. He reported seeing Russian soldiers boarding docked ships. A civilian strongly objecting to Russian attempts to board his ship was shot in the head and thrown overboard.

TBILISI, GEORGIA - Small anti-government and pro-peace demonstrations have sprung up in the Georgian Capital of Tbilisi along with groups mourning the death of former Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili, Merabishivili was seen as a possible successor to the Georgian presidency. Demonstrators are accusing President Saakashvili of engineering a security crisis to further centralize and entrench his power. President Saakashvili has apparently assumed personal control over state security and the Tbilisi police apparatus. Due to possible Georgian communications restrictions the AP reporter has warned that he may be prohibited from providing further updates.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - UNHCR affiliates are reporting a major increase in refugee traffic in the area around Gori. Georgian military forces trying to use the same routes as refugees and are creating extra congestion. Panic has compelled some of the refugees who cannot move to being demonstrating against the government and military forces.

The UNHCR hopes that this conflict will be quickly solved in order to prevent further refugees from being created.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The Russian Interior Ministry has denied involvement in the “regrettable” death of Georgian Minister Merabishvili. The Russian Defense Ministry has also made statements expressing his sentiments and denying his involvement. The Russian Defense Spokesman was heard in an off-the-record remark caught on microphone stating, “If he spent more time trying to protect his own people instead of attacking everyone else, the [Ёбанный придурок] wouldn’t have gotten himself killed. They’re well rid of him, anyway, and so are we.” The Spokesman was not available for comment on this remark.

May 15, 2010 at 13:30

The Deputy Russian Federation Minister of Interior, Nikolay Aleksandrovich Ovchinnikov issued the following statement:
“No Governmental agency of the Russian Federation and especially the Ministry of the Interior of Russia has never been and was not involved in the plotting, conspiring or executing the regrettable assassination of Minister Merabishvili of the Georgian Interior Ministry.”

Russian Ministry of Interior

Georgia, Office of the President

We are deeply saddened by the recent news of the deplorable assassination of the Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs, Vano Merabishvili by suicide bombers.

President Saakashvili made the following announcement: “The entire country has been plunged into a state of mourning for the unjustified and inhumane assassination of Minister Merabishvili as he was leaving the town of Gori.”

The Ministry for Internal Affairs stated that the Minister was reviewing the Border Guard and discussing logistical matters when the crisis in the region sparked. He was heading back to Tbilisi along with a security detachment when two trucks laden with high explosives rammed into the convoy.

President Saakashvili stated: “Our intelligence service has evidence that the Russian Interior Ministry sponsored South Ossetian separatists to carry out the assassination. I call upon all Georgians to resist the intolerable Russian attack on Georgian soil. Georgia will not rest until justice has been done.”

SUKHUMI, ABKHAZIA – Due to the explosion on the Joya del Oeste, the Venezuelan ship seized earlier by Georgian forces, the ship has sunken and is completely beyond salvaging. It is not clear whether anybody was onboard when the explosion occurred or the cause of the explosion. As large amounts of fertilizer were contained on the ship, authorities have not yet been able to determine if this was the result of an accident or an act of terror.

Moscow, May 15, 2010 – Georgian forces have attacked several Russian armored personnel carriers at 1040 this morning near the border.
This has compelled the Russian army to respond to this illegal act of war by Georgia. Russia has sent T-72 tanks on the Abkhaz border near Jvari, Georgia in order to ensure the security of Abkhazia and defend its interests against Georgian belligerence.
The Ministry of Defence is investigating the rate of casualties at this time.

Moscow, May 15, 2010 – The Russian Federation has been informed that the Abkhaz police are in control of the town of Pichori.
Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov stated: “At the request of the Abkhaz Government, the Russian Federation has responded to the violence reported this morning at 0930 in Pichori, Abkhazia when the police had come under attack from previously-unknown assailants. We have discovered two dead members of the Georgian Land Forces and one wounded as part of the assault. This is a clear sign of a premeditated and illegal attack of Georgia on Abkhazia.”
The Ministry of Defence cannot disclose the identity of the captured assailants at this time.
Due to the violence, five police are dead and several others have been injured. The Russian Federation stands in solidarity with Abkhazia.

AP

TBILISI, GEORGIA - In response to growing tensions in Abkhazia, eyewitness accounts and Abkhazian Twitter updates report Russian forces appear to be making a show of force by driving along the Georgian-Abkhaz border at several points. Their intentions have not yet been made clear but it is likely that they are responding to supposed Georgian attacks on Abkhazia.

Brussels, 15 May 2010
Joint Statement by President of the European Council, British Prime Minister, French President, and the German Chancellor

The European Union strongly advises both Georgia and Russia to refrain from military confrontation. Furthermore, we suggest a multilateral dialogue in order to resolve the outstanding differences in the region and promote peace and prosperity. It is hoped that peace will be maintained in the region.

Signed
Herman Van Rompuy
David Cameron
Nicolas Sarkozy
Angela Merkel

The Government of Georgia unequivocally denies any involvement with the recent explosion on board the Joya del Oeste. Georgia was acting in accordance with international law in securing its borders form illegal weapons being shipped to the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
President Mikheil Saakashvili issued the following statement: “As the aggrieved party, Georgia could only entertain dialogue once the territory of Georgia is fully secure under this government’s control. Russian imperialism makes any rational discussion impossible.”
Moreover, we condemn Russian interference in the internal matters of Georgia and reaffirm our position on the territorial integrity of Georgia.

The Russian Federation is deeply concerned about the actions taken by the Government of Georgia and believes these actions to be belligerent and constitute a clear threat to Russia and the international community.
President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed any opportunities for dialogue, in support of the statement made by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin: “No dialogue can occur with a country that violates international law, fabricates evidence of foreign intrigue in order to precipitate a crisis, and then blows up its evidence to prevent anyone from knowing the truth of their conspiracy.”

The Bolivian Republic of Venezuela is outraged by the unprovoked and illegal capture and attack on the Joya del Oeste of Compania Anonima Venezolana de Navegacion (CAVN), by the Government of Georgia.
We demand that the Government of Georgia compensate CAVN for all damages to Joya del Oeste and its cargo. If such compensation is not forthcoming, Venezuela will file a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice. We are deeply alarmed, and as such, implore the international community to condemn the illegal and belligerent actions of Georgia.
Furthermore, we condemn the actions of Georgia against Abkhazia and South Ossetia and reaffirm our support for the sovereignty of the two independent regions. We demand that the United Nations Security Council put an end to the Georgian blockade of Abkhazia.

WASHINGTON - CNN sources have indicated that the U.S. State Department is currently monitoring Russian military forces, including tanks and troop transport vehicles, currently en route to Pichori, in the autonomous Georgian province of Abhkazeti. Sources have also noted that that President Obama has telephoned Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and urged him to avoid escalating the current situation in Georgia with violence. Communications in the area around Pichori are being jammed. No further broadcasts from the Pichori police garrison have been intercepted.