Saakashvili's words that he negotiated deployment of Russian bases in Georgia need to be investigated - Burjanadze
TBILISI. April 3 (Interfax) - Leader of the Georgian opposition party Democratic Movement and former Georgian parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze said she was stunned by former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's words that he had proposed in 2008 that Russia deploy its military bases in Georgia on the condition that Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain part of Georgia.
"I think Saakashvili has made a sensational statement in saying that he had negotiated the deployment of Russian bases in Georgia with Russia. I personally was not aware of such negotiations. If Saakashvili did hold such negotiations, this needs to be investigated," Burjanadze told journalists on Wednesday.
Speaking in an interview with the Rustavi 2 television channel on Tuesday, Saakashvili said he had proposed to the Russian leadership in early 2008 that, should Russia give back Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia would abandon its plans to join NATO and allow Russian military bases to be stationed in its territory.