(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, December 9, 2002) – Anti-crime operation in Tbilisi aimed “to strict registration regime” in the capital city, President Shevardnadze said in his radiobroadcast on December 9.
During the night of December 6 to 7 law enforcers took in dozens of Chechens, including women to be fingerprinted.
Human right organizations have voiced their deep concern over the fact, claiming that Chechens are being arrested illegally, without any charges. Human rights activists claim that the fact was one of the massive violations of the human rights in Georgia.
“The Chechen refugees living Tbilisi have to take it [anti-crime operation] easy,” Eduard Shevardnadze said today.
He stated that the Georgian law enforcers had information that the terrorist acts were intended in Georgia and the anti-criminal operation was necessary.
Russian media sources reported that the Chechen warlords threatened Georgia in case of extradition of alleged Chechen militants, detained in Georgia to the Russian side.
“How can some threaten the country, which gave shelter to the thousands of the Chechen refugees. More than 4,000 Chechen refugees live in Pankisi gorge at the moment,” Georgian President said today.
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