12:28, 21 April 2004

Georgian president: rebellious general to be declared wanted

On April 20, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili met with the 17 officers of the defense ministry's 25th brigade who arrived in Tbilisi from Batumi.

The President thanked the officers, who "have kept the oath and have not followed Brigadier General Dumbadze, who betrayed the motherland."

The president emphasized that former commander of the Batumi brigade Roman Dumbadze would be declared wanted and "his photos will hang on trees in all regions of Georgia."

"We have not presented Adjaria to anyone, and no criminal can break the strong will of the State to see united Georgia and common laws working on its territory," said Mikhail Saakashvili.

The general had told journalists the day before that he would obey the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the President of Georgia, no longer and would take only the orders by head of Adjaria Aslan Abashidze.

Editors note: See also the article "Georgian defense minister rates General Roman Dumbadze's actions as high treason".

Source: Interfax News Agency