Terrorists in Southern Russia - implications for Georgia

A suicide bomber blew up a train car in southern Russia killing at least 32 and injuring hundreds.

"We will find those who have committed this terrorist act," Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov vowed. "The earth will burn under their feet. These animals will never feel safe anywhere," said Gryzlov, who heads the main pro-Kremlin party that leads opinion polls ahead of Sunday's election, the ITAR-TASS news agency reported.  article

Well, one of them has already been found - in pieces, in the train wreckage.

Jumping to conclusions perhaps:

A top lawmaker blamed Friday's blast on Chechen separatists. "Since practically all of our attacks are linked to Chechnya, it is clear these Chechen rebels" are responsible for the blast, Alexander Gurov, chief of the State Duma's defence committee, told Moscow Echo radio.

Twin blasts rocked the same commuter line two months ago, killing four and injuring 32.

Chechnya has been the scene of violence for many years, and Russia has been critical of Georgia's alleged "soft stance" on Chechen rebels, whom Russia says are permitted to cross back over into Georgia after attacks in southern Russia.

Georgia is in a delicate position politically right now, and the Chechen "terrorists" will likely be a key factor in relations between Russia and whatever new government arises in Georgia.


Meanwhile, several incidents of violence within Georgia are also adding to the volatility of the situation.

The former head of Georgia's customs service was abducted Friday in the capital Tbilisi and assailants beat and robbed a Russian diplomat, reflecting the climate of violence in this former Soviet republic in the run-up to next month's elections to replace ousted President Eduard Shevardnadze.

...The assaults came after a shooting attack earlier this week on the apartment of Irina Sarishvili-Chanturiya, the spokeswoman of the pro-Shevardnadze "For New Georgia" party, and an explosion outside the state television station.  article