In Abkhazia, shelling of the bus in Zugdidi District of Georgia is treated as provocation

Laurence Kogoniya, commander of the Galskiy ROVD (District Interior Unit), called the bus incident in Khurcha village, located in the Zugdidi District of Georgia, to be "a mere provocation." The bus was to bring residents of the Galskiy District of Abkhazia to the Zugdidi District of Georgia for taking part in the parliamentary elections. His statement was made to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Mr Kogoniya, today, some 200 meters from the Georgian-Abkhazian border, near the village of Khurcha, Zugdidi District of Georgia, a bus that moved in the direction of the Galskiy District of Abkhazia from Zugdidi was shelled. As a result, according to the data at disposal of the ROVD, one woman was injured, other passengers scattered.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Diordiev, Assistant to the Commander of the CIS Peacekeeping Collective Forces in the Georgian-Abkhazian Conflict Zone, that the incident happened at about 2:00 p.m. Moscow time some 500 meters off Post No. 310 of Russian peacekeepers located in the village of Khurcha, Zugdidi District of Georgia.

Reserve units of the CIS Collective Forces under command of the heads of the Northern (Galskiy District of Abkhazia) and Southern (Zugdidi District of Georgia) Safety Zones immediately arrived to the place and took all the steps to stop the skirmish. Two armoured troop-carriers were deployed on both sides of the separation line. Now, the situation there is quiet, Mr Diordiev has noted.

In the near future, the place of the incident will be visited by the members of the UN Mission who will take part in the investigation.

Traditionally, the Georgian and Abkhazian parties are accusing each other of the bus incident.