Sensing Abashidze Weakness, Tbilisi Treads a Tough Line

Abashidze faces tough choice.

In a last bid to solve the Adjara crisis peacefully, the ruling party offers defiant leader of the Autonomy Aslan Abashidze to give up power in exchange for the security guarantees for himself and his ‘inner circle’. Political analysts say the offer was anticipated, as it would be too risky for President Saakashvili’s government to solve the standoff by use of force.

The offer was voiced by an influential MP Giga Bokeria of the ruling National Movement-Democrats (NMD) known to be a close political associate of President Mikheil Saakashvili.