Pankisi Population Wants Georgian Troops in Gorge

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 15, 2002) – On August 14 the leadership of the local population of troubled Pankisi gorge held a meeting urging the government for dispatching troops of the Defense Ministry in the gorge.

At the meeting Kist (ethnic Chechens living in Pankisi) population of the gorge as well as Georgians stated that Georgia should solve the problem in Pankisi on its own without any interference of the third country.

Demand of the population of Pankisi coincided with the large-scale military exercise that takes place in Akhmeta district, where Pankisi gorge is located. Georgian authorities claim the anti-terrorist training will not grow into military operation in Pankisi gorge, which allegedly is a safe haven for Chechen militants and terrorist groups.