Spiegel prepares to let loose “informational time bomb” against Georgian authorities

«Шпигель» взорвет под Грузией информационную «бомбу»

Germany’s Spiegel magazine announced the cover story of their new issue earlier this week, which will hit stands worldwide on Sept. 1. The article testifies to the “many poor decisions made by the Georgian authorities that led to the crisis in the Caucasus,” RIA Novosti reported.

The article’s teaser promises an informational time bomb that is sure to complicate things for Georgia. Its authors claim that piles of evidence have accumulated at the OSCE headquarters detailing the Georgian authorities’ unsavory decisions that resulted in the conflict. Spiegel also notes that governmental bodies in Berlin have received information compiled by OSCE military observers in the Caucasus (via unofficial channels) that prove Georgia began the conflict.

First, the article presents evidence showing how Georgia prepared military actions against South Ossetia before the event transpired, Spiegel writes. Second, it demonstrates how Georgia attacked South Ossetia before Russian tanks even entered the Roki tunnel. Third, the article includes testimonies from observers who say Tbilisi ordered an attack on South Ossetia at night while innocent civilians were sleeping.

These facts, which have been known to Russians from the very start of the conflict, are being sold as a genuine sensation in the West. This is a clear demonstration of how Western media has provided biased coverage of the conflict.

Spiegel also added in the teaser: “The OSCE has received evidence about the many poor decisions made by the Georgian authorities that led to the crisis in the Caucasus.”

Curiously, the teaser contains even more compelling information. Spiegel learned that Germany’s Interior Ministry has already developed three possible scenarios for Russia’s political development and outlined Germany’s reactions. KP has detailed these three scenarios below, as they provide an interesting look at Russia through the eyes of Western Europeans.

Scenario one. Russia toughens foreign policies

Spiegel reports that the internal document presented to Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier late last year said that Russia may take an imperial turn for the worse. In this chain of events, Germany would no longer maintain a strategic partnership with Russia and a “cold war” would ensue. The document also considered the possibility that Russia would recognize Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s independence.

Spiegel added that if Russia toughened its foreign policies, the Western democratic model worldwide would be put on the defensive.

Scenario two. Russia integrates into the world economy

Germany’s Foreign Ministry also considered the possibility that events may unfold differently. Spiegel wrote that if Russia began pushing Moscow as Eastern Europe’s Davos, Russia would integrate into the world economy and eventually approach European norms.

Davos is the Swiss city where the international economic forum was held.

Scenario Three. Stagnation

The stagnation scenario in the eyes of German officials is Russia somewhere in-between confrontation and partnership with the West.

Spiegel writes that in all three scenarios Steinmeier warns the German government that the West must move cautiously when partnering with Georgia to prevent overstepping in a region that Russia has traditionally viewed as its political playground.

By the way…

The OSCE has already reacted to the Spiegel article. The head of the Press Department at OSCE, Martin Nesirki, told the Echo Moscow radio station he has absolutely no idea where the magazine received such bogus information.