Georgian MFA: Russian Peacekeepers Fail to Secure Abkhaz Conflict Zone

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) blamed Russian peacekeepers, deployed in the Abkhazian conflict zone under the CIS auspices, for failing to ensure the security of the 12-km security zone along the Enguri river, which divides breakaway Abkhazia from the rest of Georgia.

11 ethnic Georgian were kidnapped after an armed group, described by Georgian officials as ?Abkhaz criminals,? raided the village of Ganmukhuri, which is located in the Zugdidi district of the Samegrelo region, at the administrative border with Abkhazia. 

?Russian peacekeeping troops helped Abkhaz criminals to attack and kidnap local Georgians, thus neglecting their mandate, which envisages protection of the peaceful population,? the statement issued by the Georgian Foreign Ministry on January 12 reads.

Reports say 9 out of the 11 civilians who were kidnapped from the Georgian village of Ganmukhuri on January 11 were released on January 12. Two of them still remain captive. The reasons behind their prolonged detention are unclear.