Tensions Defuse Between Tbilisi and Batumi

President Shevardnadze awarded Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara Aslan Abashidze with the special order for the contribution to the process of nation-building on November 3.

“I can visit Tbilisi without any fear now”, Aslan Abashidze states after the awarding ceremony in Batumi, capital of Autonomous Republic.

Abashidze, who is harshly criticized by the political opponents and the most of the NGOs for executing authoritarian governance in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, has been avoiding visits to Georgian capital because of the fear of assassination during the years.

The reformers wing of the Citizen’s Union party criticizes President Shevardnadze too, because of cooperating with the authoritarian governor of the autonomous region.