Shevardnadze Blames Criminals for Akhaltsikhe Blast

(Tbilisi, September 8, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze condemned the incident, which occurred in the office of the Governor of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, Gela Kvaratskhelia, saying the incident was organized by criminals.

“Whatever the motive is, still this incident is directed against the state. Gela Kvaratskhelia is actively struggling against contraband and probably this was the reason for the explosion. I am sure the law-enforcers will investigate the case,” Shevardnadze said in his radio broad!
cast on September 8.

The explosion took place in Akhaltsikhe, a town in southern Georgia, on September 5, as a result of which two persons were injured.

Gela Kvaratskhelia himself said this terrorist attack aimed at his life and accused particular political parties of organizing it. However, he refrained from specifying which ones.