The Abkhaz side has expressed serious concern in connection with the creation of illegal armed formations in Georgia

SUKHUM --The Abkhaz side has expressed serious concern over the creation in Georgia of illegal armed formations and their deployment in the immediate vicinity of Abkhazia’s borders.

Irakli Alasania, one of the leaders of the Georgian opposition, accused the Georgian leadership a few days ago of setting up illegal armed formations in Mingrelia.

"The establishment of such armed formations shows the ongoing aspiration of the Georgian leadership to continue its policy of terror and intimidation, both in Georgia and in Abkhazia’s Gal district that borders on Georgia. The actions of these armed groups will indubitably exacerbate even further the situation in the region," the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry commented.

Abkhazia’s main foreign policy agency recalls that "during the postwar years, Georgia has used illegal armed groups to inflame tensions and destabilize the Gal district."

"Apparently, this tactic continues to dominate the actions of the Georgian authorities with regard to Abkhazia, as evidenced by a significant increase in the number of incidents that resulted in casualties in the Gal district," the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry statement said.

The Abkhaz side directs the special attention of all participants in the Geneva discussions to Georgia’s actions, “which threaten security in the entire region, and calls on international mediators, as well as the EU Observer Mission in Georgia, to bring their influence to bear on the Georgian side and take the measures necessary to prevent an escalation of tensions on Abkhaz territories that border on Georgia.”