Saakashvili Addressed Adjarians

Georgian President made a televised appeal to the Adjarian population and troops still loyal to defiant Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze and called them to detect “Adjara’s criminal regime.”

He also said after the emergency session of the Georgian National Security Council on May 4, which followed disbanding of a protest rally in Batumi by the local security forces, that Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze “wants to separate Adjara from the rest of Georgia and trigger hostilities in the region.”

“I want to say, that we have no problems with the Adjara Autonomous Republic and the people living there, we have problems with one man – Aslan Abashidze,” President Saakashvili said.

He said that Russian retired Maj. Gen. Yuri Netkachov, who serves as a military advisor to Abashidze, “has mined adjacent areas of the oil terminal” in Batumi.

“Netkachov has also mined a bridge connecting Kobuleti [Adjara’s second major town] with Batumi to prevent protesters from Kobuleti to arrive in Batumi,” he added.

Georgian Security Ministry alleged on May 3, that a plan to destroy three key bridges linking Adjara to the rest of Georgia were elaborated and carried out under the command of the retired Russian Maj. Gen. Yuri Netkachev.

President Saakashvili vowed that he, in cooperation with the Parliament and government, would “do outmost” to solve the crisis. “I will not leave you alone in time of trouble,” Saakashvili said addressing to the Adjarian population.

Dozens were reportedly injured as Adjarian security forces dissolved the separate groups of protesters in Batumi and foiled a rally outside the Batumi University on May 4. Security forces used truncheons and water cannon.

“Adjarian people demonstrated a huge courage today. These were spontaneous and unorganized protest rallies. But if we are more organized and united this criminal regime [of the Autonomy] will not be able to defeat us,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.

He also reiterated once again that Georgia’s central authorities do not plan to cancel Adjara’s autonomous status. 

Mikheil Saakashvili called for cautious and said that the government will take “very careful steps” to find solution of the problem.