22:08, 29 September 2004

Georgia 'generates tension' on eve of presidential election in Abkhazia

The Abkhazian State Security Service has issued a statement today that meetings are being held in western districts of Georgia with the demand to return refugees to Abkhazia. Organizers of the meetings threaten to arrange actions of disobedience in case their demand is not satisfied.

"Extra Interior Troops units and special detachments of the Georgian State Security Ministry have been brought to the western districts of Georgia under the pretext of providing law and order. They are stationed along the entire perimeter of the land border with Abkhazia. In addition to them, the Georgian Defense Ministry's element numbering 300 soldiers, 80 members of an unidentified armed unit, and a group of locals under the command of Emzar Kvitsiani are stationed in Abkhazia's Svanetia," reads the statement. "A marine detachment numbering up to 2000 people and warships ready to put up at any time are stationed in Poti."

Author: Anzhela Kuchuberiya, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot