MOSCOW — A row erupted between Georgia and Russia on Sunday after explosions in southern Russia hit a pipeline and an electricity transmission tower, cutting off natural gas and reducing electricity supplies to Georgia as temperatures plunged.
Georgia has a poorly functioning electrical grid and uses natural gas to heat homes and power some industries.
“The situation is very difficult. We have enough gas for just one day,” said Teona Doliashvili, a spokeswoman for the Energy Ministry.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili accused Russia of being behind the explosions to punish his country, presumably for its pro-Western policies. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the allegation was “an instance of hysteria and bacchanalia.” Russian officials said they were working to restore supplies as quickly as possible.
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In a statement, Saakashvili said that “while the acts remain under investigation, several circumstances raise serious questions for the authorities in the Russian Federation.”
“The explosions took place in a section of the pipe that did not disrupt supplies to Russian consumers — only disrupting supplies to Georgia,” he said.
— The Washington Post
