Georgian Army Chief Rules out Use of Force in Abkhazia

The Chief of Staff of the Georgian armed forces Maj. Gen. Givi Iukuridze denied that Georgia plans to use force in order to gain control over breakaway Abkhazia.

He told reporters on May 14 that fears of Abkhaz side over possible incursion of the Georgian troops is groundless.

In a letter sent to the UN Chief Military Observer Maj. Gen.  Kazi Ashfaq Ahmed, de facto Abkhaz Defense Minister Viacheslav Eshba said that ?the Georgian secret services? intend to trigger escalations ?under the pretext of mass revolt and mass disobedience campaign? in the Gali district.

?Then incursion of the Georgian armed forces and illegal armed groups in Gali is planned, that will result in breaking away of Gali from the rest of Abkhazia,? Viacheslav Eshba added.

Gali district at the administrative border with the rest of Georgia is predominately populated by ethnic Georgians.

Abkhaz de facto Defense Minister also said that Georgian troops are mobilizing in Kodori gorge, which is the only part of Abkhazia under the Georgian side?s control.