Moscow Warns Tbilisi Against Use of Force

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko reiterated on May 4, that Russia is “extremely concerned over the increasing tensions in Adjara.”

“Relations between Tbilisi and Batumi [Adjarian capital] is Georgia’s internal affair. However, Russia considers resolution of the crisis through military rhetoric and use of force as absolutely inadmissible,” Russian official said.

Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on May 2 calling Tbilisi for restraint and to solve the crisis through dialogue, which caused protest of the Georgian Foreign Ministry, which responded that Georgia has never intended use of force in Adjara.