(Tbilisi. January 8. Civil Georgia) – Georgian National Security Council is to discuss situation in Pankisi gorge on January 8, eastern mountainous region in Georgia, where the kidnappers detain several abducted persons.
Relatives of abducted monk Basil Machitadze, together with the Union of Combatants Fighting in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan war are protesting in Pankisi gorge demanding monk’s release.
Protesters formed a special organizational staff to coordinate further activities of meeting.
Four monks were kidnapped in early November 2001. Three of them were released later while one still remains detained. Kidnappers demand ransom of one million USD for releasing the monk.