UN Observers Kidnapped in Abkhazia

(Tbilisi, June 5 2003, Civil Georgia) – Unknown armed group kidnapped four UN observers in Georgia?s breakaway region of Abkhazia this morning.

The UN Observers Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) confirmed the report, however refrained from making any comments regarding the incident.

?8 member patrol was attacked this morning at the village of Gertvisi, in Kodori gorge. Russian peacekeepers deployed in the conflict zone were among the patrol, however kidnappers released them and only the members of the UN observers group remain in hands of the kidnappers,? Head of the Abkhaz government in exile Tamaz Nadareishvili told Civil Georgia.

The names and nationalities of the abducted personnel, as well as the kidnappers are not available so far.

Georgian officials have no detailed information regarding the incident. The law enforcers, as well as the Foreign Ministry and Tamaz Nadareishvili say that it is unknown the reasons of abduction.

Kodori gorge is a flashpoint in breakaway Abkhazia, as the half of the gorge is controlled by the Georgian authorities and another half by the Abkhaz side.

Four UN military observers were killed in the gorge when their helicopter was shot down in 2001.

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