On September 2 the third phase of the anti-criminal operation started in Pankisi. According to the Interior Ministry attempt would be made at releasing the hostages held in the gorge. Interior Minister Koba Narchemashvili told the reporters on September 4, that as a result of the anti-criminal operation, which started on August 23 in Pankisi Georgian authorities have already arrested 5 persons, suspected in deferent crimes. One of them is allegedly linked to the terrorist organizations.
Operation in Pankisi seemed inevitable as international pressure on Georgia concerning situation in the gorge was mounting. However, Russian officials are dissatisfied by the security crackdown. They say Georgian authorities do not intend to arrest the Chechen “terrorists.”
“I hope that the operation is not just for putting on the show, but it is a real expression of Georgia’s will to defeat terrorism on its territory,” Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on August 28.
President Shevardnadze responded to the criticism against the Georgian operation, saying on September 2 in his traditional radiobroadcast, “such a reaction in Russia is quite understandable as many in Moscow wanted to create a new hotspot in Georgia.” Shevardnadze also said Georgian government took the only correct decision and dispatched Internal Troops to the gorge, thus restoring security control in the area. President claims that the operation is successful.
Georgian experts also concede the Georgian government’s actions in the gorge are appropriate. “First of all, [the situation in Pankisi] already became a big problem within the country, people’s discontent has been increasing,” Alexander Rondeli, President of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS) told Civil Georgia. “Besides, international pressure kept increasing as well. And I would not put Russia’s pressure on the last place. The American Train and Equip Program has started in the same period as well,” Rondeli added.
“The Georgian Government had two important goals: to avoid the bloodshed and hostility between the ethnic groups and to establishment of Interior Ministry’s control over the gorge. Taking actions on these issues is far more efficient rather than going into the gorge with arms, carrying out anti-terrorist operation and starting shooting,” Mamuka Areshidze, an expert in Caucasus issues and the State Ministers aide told Civil Georgia.
Khizri Aldamov, leader of the Chechen community in Georgia, also welcomes actions of the Georgian government. “Fact that Russians are not participating in the operation is the most acceptable for all Chechens,” he says.
Along with the joint measures of the Interior and State Security Ministries, the Defense Ministry is conducting large-scale military exercises in Pichkhiani, an area adjacent to Pankisi gorge. Several days earlier the Ministry has started similar exercises in Khevsureti area, thus establishing control of the Chechen sector of the Georgian-Russian state border.
However, the anti-criminal operation and advancement of the law enforcers into the gorge would solve the problems of the gorge only partially. Grave social and economic state of the Pankisi residents also needs to be addressed. Experts say social hardship pushes the youth of the gorge into drug dealing and crime.
Mamuka Areshidze told Civil Georgia that recently Georgian State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze has called a special meeting dedicated to the issue of social development of the region. Allocation of the quotas at the higher education institutes was also discussed. According to Areshidze Several economic projects for employment of the local residents, as well as the refugees, are being elaborated.
The local authorities report that several schools are operational in the gorge and Chechen refugees are studying there in Georgian and Russian languages together with local children.
Uncertainty of the security operation still pushes the social agenda from the top of the list of the decision-makers. Areshidze fears the government shows some signs of active interest in addressing the social issues, but the extent of its commitment is still unclear.
By Giorgi Sepashvili, Revaz Bakhtadze, Civil Georgia