Shevardnadze Cautions Over Possible Chechen Fighters’ Incursion

(Tbilisi, June 14 2003, Civil Georgia) – Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said in his radiobroadcast on June 16 that the borders should be reinforced to avoid possible penetration of the Chechen fighters in Georgia. 

“We do not face this threat presently. I do not think that either the Russians or the Chechens are interested in the infiltration of large armed groups to Georgia. However we should be cautious and reinforce control on the borders,” President Shevardnadze said in his Monday radio broadcast on June 16.

He said that no armed groups are on the territory of Georgia at the moment, since the borders were under strict control of both the Georgian and Russian sides. 

One of the leaders of the pro-governmental election alliance Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia said on June 12 that the incursion of the large number of Chechen fighters from Russia to Georgia is anticipated..

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