28 April 2004 -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili warned yesterday that law enforcement agencies will act against Adjar leader Aslan Abashidze if he continues to defy the central government.
"If that person [Abashidze] continues this way for long, naturally, the law enforcement agencies will deal with him, but only with him [personally]," Saakashvili said in Kyiv.
Saakashvili said the overall situation in the autonomous region of Adjaria is not "tense."
Saakashvili's comments come as Georgia prepares to hold a large military exercise north of Adjaria. The chief of staff of the Georgian military, General Givi Iukuridze, was quoted by Interfax as saying that the exercises-- which begin on 30 April -- will include tanks, other armored vehicles, and air-defense systems. He said that "the exercises are not in any way intended as a provocation toward Adjaria."
Also yesterday, Georgia's Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava said about 50 members of an elite Adjar "rapid-response" squad has rejected Abashidze's authority and come to Tbilisi.
(AP)
Saakashvili said the overall situation in the autonomous region of Adjaria is not "tense."
Saakashvili's comments come as Georgia prepares to hold a large military exercise north of Adjaria. The chief of staff of the Georgian military, General Givi Iukuridze, was quoted by Interfax as saying that the exercises-- which begin on 30 April -- will include tanks, other armored vehicles, and air-defense systems. He said that "the exercises are not in any way intended as a provocation toward Adjaria."
Also yesterday, Georgia's Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava said about 50 members of an elite Adjar "rapid-response" squad has rejected Abashidze's authority and come to Tbilisi.
(AP)