Sukhum – Contradicting statements come from both Abkhazian and Georgian officials to solve the mystery behind the killing of an Abkhazian border guard in a latest border clash the night before since September 20, when both Georgian and Abkhazian security forces were involved in a clash in the Abkhazian province of Tkuarchal.
The clash began when Georgian forces made an attempt to take control of Abkhazian checkpoints along the border, according to Laurens Kogoniya, chief Abkhazian police officer here. Kogoniya further said that the Abkhazian border guard died possibly after Georgians hospitalized him when he was wounded in the fighting.
A statement from Ruslan Kishmariya, special representative of Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh for Gal, blamed the Georgian administration for letting the regional stability get spoiled in such provocative circumstances.
The Georgian side has an entirely different story to account for the incident. Georgian security forces along the border tried to stop someone driving a stolen car from crossing the border, according to Shota Khizanishvili, a spokesman for Georgian Interior Ministry. Georgian security forces responded to an Abkhazian security officer when he fired at them while he was waiting on the Abkhazian side to get into the car. Georgian security officers shot him dead, and arrested the car driver. Georgian officials identified the Abkhazian security officer to be Manuchar Arshba.
The Georgian administration tried to have the international community believe that the September 20 fighting happened in Kodor—something that later turned out to be false when the United Nations officials reported that it happened in Tkuarchal. (Agency Caucasus)
