Saakashvili Recognizes Kross for Support During Russian-Georgian War
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has given honors to Eerik-Niiles Kross, who is running for mayor in Tallinn in the ranks of IRL, the national government's conservative junior coalition partner.
The recognition was received for supporting Georgian sovereignty and Euro-Atlantic integration, Gruzija Online reported on Saturday.
Saakashvili said Kross, a former intelligence chief and security adviser, had assisted Georgia in defending itself against Russian cyber attacks that came in the prelude to the Russian-Georgian War of 2008.
Leading up to the outbreak of war, Georgian government websites were attacked. Kross reportedly helped create backup websites to allow for the protection of Georgian data, to keep communications running with international contacts and to mobilize international support. Saakashvili also thanked Kross for his humanitarian efforts.
Kross is known in international circles for holding a high-level position in the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Kross is also known for a controversy in which Russian authorities sought to bring him in for questioning regarding their suspicion that he organized the hijacking of a ship called the Arctic Sea in 2009. Both Estonian officials and Interpol have rejected accusations, saying they are baseless.