(Tbilisi, January 15, Civil Georgia) – Georgian Internal Affairs Minister Koba Narchemashvili denied the view that Pankisi gorge is out of the Georgian jurisdiction.
The Minister stated on January 15 at the news conference in Akhmeta region, where Pankisi gorge is located, that the local Kist population of Pankisi gorge welcomed transfer of internal troops’ checkpoints 15km further inside the gorge.
On December 28, State Security Minister stated that the Georgian authorities could not control entire territory of Pankisi gorge.
Georgian law enforcement agencies launched special operations on January 15 to crackdown on criminals in Pankisi gorge.