Officials in Tbilisi Say Abashidze’s Legitimacy Undermined

The newly convened Parliament of Georgia will give a formal go-ahead on April 23 to the country’s central authorities to deal with the defiant leadership of the Adjarian Autonomy by passing a decree outlining priorities of government’s policy towards Autonomous Republic. Meanwhile Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze, who has warned of anticipated “special operation in Adjara” by central authorities, urged Russia and United States to help in resolving current crisis. 

Draft of decree on situation in Adjara, which will be discussed by the Parliament dominated by President Saakashvili’s supporters, condemns Adjarian leadership’s activity as “an open attempt to encroach country’s territorial integrity.”

“The statement of the Parliament will be very strict, because the situation is very grave. But it does not mean that we will not see a positive signs if there will be any from the Adjarian leadership,” – Nino Burjanadze, who was re-elected as the Parliamentary Chairperson told reporters on April 23. 

According to the decree the legislators will instruct the President, government and law enforcement agencies to secure protection of Georgia’s constitution and “liquidation of illegal armed groups in the Adjarian Autonomy.”

The deputies will also demand from the government to react on each case of human rights violation in Adjara. The Foreign Ministry will be instructed to inform international community regarding the situation in the Adjarian Autonomy.

“Actually, all these efforts are underway by the authorities; with this decree we are giving a political and legal assessment to the situation in Adjara and creating a legal framework for the executive government,” said MP Tamaz Diasamidze of Our Adjara movement, which is a major opposition to Abashidze’s regime.

Meanwhile, Aslan Abashidze accused again the country’s central authorities in an attempt to overthrow his regime. He said in a live broadcast at Adjara TV on April 22, that the country’s central authorities “prepare special operation” against him. “This is an attempt to forcefully oust Adjara’s democratically elected authorities,” Abashidze added.

Adjarian leader also said that he has sent letters to the President of the United States and Russia and urged them “to take active measures to avoid confrontation.”

“Only these two countries can help us.  The new authorities of Georgia do nothing without the instructions from the U.S. and we have rather close links with Russia. So, I have sent letters to the Presidents of these two countries to help avoid confrontation,” Aslan Abashidze said on April 22.

Abashidze’s comments follow Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s recent statement, which indicates that it is impossible to achieve a compromise that would leave Abashidze in power.

“The people of Adjara must be freed from this criminal clan,” President Saakashvili said, while addressing the Georgia’s new Parliament’s first session on April 22, referring to Abashidze’s regime. Saakashvili also said that Abashidze has no right “to speak on behalf of the Adjarian population, as he has never been elected by the Adjarians.”

Mikheil Saakashvili also said that his opponents often criticize him for radical stance towards Abashidze. “They, who are pseudo-pacifists, claim that there is no need in confrontation. But I am not going to tolerate drug barons and criminals in one of the regions of Georgia. I am not going to have a peace with them,” Saakashvili added.

“We should act decisively in order to restore rule of law in entire Georgia and we should not step back,” the President told legislators.
 
Later on April 22, Deputy Security Minister of Georgia Gigi Ugulava described Aslan Abashidze as “a de facto head of Autonomy.” “We can call him [Aslan Abashidze] de facto Head, as legitimacy of his authority narrows day after day,” Gigi Ugulava said.

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