According to Russian information agencies relying on Defense Minister of self-declared Republic of Abkhazia Mikanba, a helicopter of the UN mission in Georgia was grounded near Gulribshi village, Abkhazia. Three UN observers have died as a result of the incident, Mikanba stated.
UN mission makes no comments until its own sources confirm the information. However, UN Mission states that the helicopter was aught to start monitoring activities in Kodori gorge. Abkhazian self-declared government blames the Georgian side for presence of Georgian-Chechen guerrilla groups in Kodori (only territory of Abkhazia, controlled by the central Georgian government).