19:16, 30 April 2004

NGO appeals to people in Adjaria to lay down arms

On April 30, the NGO Democratic Institute distributed leaflets among residents of Batumi appealing the Adjarian population to lay down arms and not to obey leader of the autonomy Aslan Abashidze, one of the leaders of the organization Salome Sarua told Novosti-Gruzia.

"This appeal is to all people who have arms illegally given to them by the autonomy's authorities. We call upon all of them to turn in these arms and not to use them against their nationals regardless of what will happen in future," Ms Sarua said.

The leaflets also appeal to the officers of security agencies and armed units stationed in Adjaria to obey only the orders by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the president of Georgia.

Ms Sarua noted that her organization was going to distribute the leaflets in military units stationed in Adjaria.

Source: Novosti-Gruzia Information Agency