(Tbilisi, January 21, Civil Georgia) – On January 20 two Kists (Georgian citizens of Chechen origin living in Pankisi gorge) were wounded in armed clash between the criminals and the police in Pankisi gorge, Internal Affairs Ministry press service reported on January 21, 2002.
Wounded Kists, Aslan Kushtanashvili and Alex Gumashvili assisted police to arrest Temur Chitashvili suspected in burglary. After his arrest relatives of the criminal opened the fire to police. Two Kists were badly wounded.
This is the first case of armed clash in Pankisi since January 15, when the law enforcement agencies started special operation in Pankisi to crackdown on criminals.
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