Adjara Blows up Key Bridges, Cuts Road Links

Two key bridges in Adjara – Choloki and Kakuti were reportedly blown up on May 2 at 1 pm, by the local authorities, hence destroying the only road links between the Autonomous Republic and the rest of Georgia.

Meanwhile, Georgian Defense Ministry wraps up its major military exercises in Poti, some 30 km away from Adjarian Autonomy on May 2. Georgian elite troops, air forces and heavy armor, as well as navy forces participated in the three-day long maneuvers, which is attended on May 2 by President Saakashvili.

Unofficial reports say that explosion of two major bridges in Adjara was caused by the fear of Adjarian authorities over possible incursion of armed forces into the region; whoever President Saakashvili, as well Georgian Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili denied earlier on May 2, that central authorities were planning use of armed forces in the restive region.

Reports say that troops loyal to Aslan Abashidze are on high alert in Adjarian capital Batumi. “Armed groups are already patrolling the streets of Batumi and more forces, loyal to Abashidze are dispatched at Choloki [administrative border between Adjara and rest of Georgia],” Eter Suladze, Batumi-based journalists of local newspaper Batumelebi told Civil Georgia on May 2.

She also said that the Adjarian Interior Ministry “warned the journalist not to get closer at the administrative border, especially at Choloki and Kakuti, where bridges have been blown up.”

Meanwhile, more allies of Adjarian leadership defect Aslan Abashidze and flee to capital Tbilisi. Chief of Abashidze’s one of the paramilitary groups Aleksander Davitadze arrived in Tbilisi on May 1 and pledged his support for President Saakashvili. On the same day, Deputy Interior Minister and chief of environmental police of Adjarian Autonomy Anzor Dumbadze also refused to obey Aslan Abashidze and arrived in Tbilisi.

Our Adjara, Abashidze’s major opposition movement, claims that explosion of bridges was also caused with the local authorities attempt to stop outflow of security forces from the region.

Secretary of the Georgian National Security Forces Vano Merabishvili said on April 30 that recent developments in Adjara are a clear sign that “Abashidze’s regime is falling apart.”