Russian Soldiers Left Kodori Gorge

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, July 31, 2002) – Up to 30 Russian soldiers illegally deployed in Kodori gorge left this Georgian controlled area in breakaway Abkhazia today after the talks with Georgian Defense Minister Davit Tevzadze.

According to Emzar Kvitsiani, governor of Kodori gorge they were soldiers of Russian Border Guard Department deployed in the unpopulated area of upper Kodori gorge three-four days ago and launched to establish fortifications.

Today Georgian Defense Minister Davit Tevzadze arrived in Kodori and held talks with Russian soldiers. Emzar Kvitsiani in the interview to the Rustavi 2 TV channel on July 31 said that Russian border guards explained that they came in Kodori by chance. “Of course this is false. Russian troops new where they were coming,” Emzar Kvitsiani said.

“We would attack them in case Russians’ refusal to leave the gorge,” governor of Kodori said.

According to Kvitsiani helicopters of the Russian Border Guard Department took the soldiers away from Kodori gorge. “But we are not sure yet whether all the Russian border guards left the gorge or not,” Kvitsiani added.