Russian Senators Want Operation in Pankisi With the UN Sanction

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 5, 2002) – “We should initiate consultation with the UN Security Council concerning the anti-terrorist operation in Georgia’s Pankisi gorge,” Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the Russian Federal Council, upper branch of the Parliament, Committee on Foreign Affairs stated on August 4, Russian media sources report.

Earlier Chairman of the Federal Council Sergei Mironov said that Russia might appeal to the UN for the carrying out anti-terrorist operation in Pankisi.

“It can be only the international anti-terrorist operation, in which together with the Russian troops, Georgian and international anti-terrorist forces will be involved as well,” Mikhail Margelov said.

Georgian authorities claim that Georgia is able to solve Pankisi problem independently without foreign military involvement and offers the Chechen fighters hiding in the troubled gorge to hand in the weapons.