Official Denies Georgia Wants to Move Chechen Refugees to Third Country

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 15, 2002) – “It is absolutely untrue that Georgia suggests to move Chechen refugees living in Pankisi gorge to the third country,” Irakli Pirtskhalava of Georgian Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation told the Civil Georgia on August 15.

According to the registration held in April up to 3,800 refugees live in Georgia’s troubled Pankisi gorge at the moment.

Representative of the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation said that the removal of Chechens from Pankisi would be discussed in case the threat of lounching the military operation in the gorge becomes real.

Russia constantly demands from the Georgian authorities to carry out joint anti-terrorist operation in Pankisi, where allegedly Chechen fighters and terrorist are hiding. Georgian rejects proposal.