Gali/Agency Caucasus – Ruslan Kishmariya, special envoy of Abkhaz President Sergey Bagapsh in the region of Gali, said that the border gates had to be closed to prevent kidnappers and/or terrorists from entering into Abkhazia from Georgia.
The only border gate between Gali and the Georgian region of Zugdidi will remain closed until the situation returns to normal.
According to Radio Svodoba, Tbilisi circulated news that Russian peacekeepers were in full charge of the security in Gali, though more additional Russian peacekeepers were sent in to Gali as well.
Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba confirmed Radio Svodoba as being partially true: "There is really a military base being built for the Russian peacekeepers; however, the border is not being controlled only by the Russian border guards; it is being controlled jointly by both Russian and Abkhaz border guards," he said.
President Sergey Bagapsh also said that additional Abkhaz security forces were sent in to Abkhazia’s border with Georgia to stop further provocations in the region of Gali. "The European Union observers are not able to maintain regional security and prevent kidnappers and terrorists coming in to Abkhazia from Georgia. We are taking precautions solely to keep our border with Georgia more secure," he said.
KU/ÖZ/FT
