Saakashvili Gives ‘Last Chance’ to Abashidze
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| Saakashvili: Abashidze is ‘middle-age feudal and criminal’ |
Mikheil Saakashvili’s ultimatum to Aslan Abashidze follows explosion of two key bridges in Adjara, linking troubled region with the rest of Georgia, by the local authorities on May 2 – an act described by the Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze as a self-defense against anticipated incursion of the Georgian armed forces.
“It was ridiculous to blow up bridges, because if we want to send troops in Adjara we will manage this without bridges,” Saakashvili said at a news briefing after the emergency session of the Georgian National Security Council.
“It was an act of provocation. Abashidze wanted us to use force, but we will not yield to this provocation,” he added.
He also said that the Georgia’s central authorities are giving “one more and the last chance” to Abashidze to obey the central government. “Otherwise I will dissolve Adjara’s local governance bodies and appoint snap elections, I have a constitution right to do so,” the President added.
Mikheil Saakashvili said that Abashidze should disband his illegal armed groups and ensure protection of human rights and Georgia’s constitution in the region.
Aslan Abashidze refused to disarm his paramilitary forces on April 13 that triggered re-escalation of tensions between Tbilisi and Batumi. He also refused to hold re-run parliamentary elections in Adjara’s two districts on April 18.
Two key bridges – Choloki and Kakuti were blown up at 1 pm local time on Sunday, hence destroying the only road links between the Autonomy and the rest of Georgia.
The explosions occurred as the Georgian Defense Ministry was wrapping up largest ever military exercises of the Georgian armed forces just 30 km away from Adjara in the town of Poti. Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze in an interview to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass said that an explosion of the bridges were an act of self-defense.
“We have information, that several unites of Georgian armed forces, which were participating in maneuvers in Poti [30 km away from Adjara], have set up their tents only 1 km away from the administrative border,” Abashidze said.
Interior Minister of Adjarian Autonomy Jemal Gogitidze also said that explosion of bridges aimed at preventing troops to attack Adjara.
But President Saakashvili dismissed Adjarian leadership’s claims as “ridiculous.” He said that explosion of bridges aimed at stopping outflow of Adjarians from the region. “Abashidze is losing more and more allies,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.
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.
President Saakashvili also said that explosion of two key bridges will lead to “humanitarian disaster” for most of the population of Adjara. “Destruction of bridges means that the most of the residents of Adjara will face starvation. It means that no tourists will travel to Adjara in summer, that was the major source of income for many Adjarians,” he added.
Meanwhile, 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.