Russia was ready to provide an aviation assistance to Georgia. Official Moscow claims that Georgia has directly asked Russia to help and had prepared the Il-76 aircraft. Later, however, Tbilisi changed its mind.

Maria Zakharova, Sergei Lavrov"s spokesperson criticizes Georgian politicians due to this decision and claims that "Moscow"s humanitarian mission to Tbilisi was used to stimulate anti-Russian sentiments".

Members of the Georgian government make contradictory statements on this issue.

Zurab Alavidze, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, categorically denies the information spread by Sergei Lavrov"s spokesperson in the morning and says that Georgia has asked for assistance not from Russia, but from the United Nations.

Victor Dolidze , the Georgian State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration confirms that Georgian side has not asked for Russia"s help directly ." No assistance was asked from Russia by the Georgian side personally. Russia has decided to offer assistance to Georgia in the frameworks of the UN. The decision is welcome, but no longer needed,"- he stated today.

In the evening it turned out that Zurab Abashidze, the Special Representative of the Georgian PM in terms of Relations with Russia had called the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia- Grigory Karasin himself.

The Georgian side decided to ask foreign countries for help in terms of extinguishing the fire. Between these countries are our neighbors. A phone conversation was held between me and Mr. Karasin. During the conversation Russia expressed readiness to provide technical assistance, which would make it possible to react more effectively if the situation would have deteriorated. Afterward, a relevant note was sent to Russia via the Swiss Embassy. All procedures were followed. But later there was no need of it.

Georgia extinguished fire in the Borjomi Gorge after a week-long fight and assistance of the partner countries. However, the members of the government hid that one of the first countries ,whom they have asked to help first ,was the country, which has occupied 20 percent of Georgia"s territory.