Moscow Doubtful About Georgian Operation in Pankisi Gorge

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 21, 2002) – Moscow doubts that Georgian government will implement its intention and hold a wide-scale antiterrorist operation in troubled Pankisi gorge.

“Official Tbilisi had recently claimed that there were Chechen fighters and international terrorists in Pankisi gorge but these have nothing to do with Georgian government’s new plan about the operation. Fighting “against local and foreign criminals, residing in Pankisi, according to international law”, that’s what the plan says”, Boris Malakhov, official representative of Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, told reporters on August 20.

“Widely advertised operation will probably end with imitated activeness and the “boeviks” will continue aggression against Russia and its citizens”, Malakhov stated. He went on to say that by all means it is Georgia’s internal business which forces and ways it will use in order to wipe out terrorism on its territory.

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze stated on August 19 that Internal Forces would enter the troubled gorge, which will guarantee reestablishment of peace and stability in Pankisi. The forces would fight those opposing the intention, he said. The exact date of when the operation begins is not known yet.