Georgia Responsible for Infiltration of Fighters to Russia – Russian MFA States

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, July 31, 2002) – Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement on July 31, concerning the aggravated situation in Chechnya, near the Georgian border, where armed clashes between the Russian troops and Chechen fighters occur.

“Georgian government should take drastic measures to destroy bases of terrorists in Pankisi gorge. Georgia is fully responsible for the recent penetration of bandits on Russian territory from Pankisi gorge,” the Russian MFA statement says.

“Georgian government has promised international community to deal independently with the Pankisi problem, but it seems that Georgia is unable and does not want to deal with the problem,” MFA statement says.

Georgia denies Russian reports that Chechen fighters infiltrated to the Russian territory from Georgia and accuses Russia in recent bombardments of the Georgian territories.