Touching upon yesterday's statement of an official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry concerning the necessity of the peaceful settlement of the conflict between Tbilisi and Batumi, the Georgian Foreign Ministry states that "it flatly denies all information about the use of force in regard to Adzharia." However, the Georgian Foreign Ministry accused Adzharian leader Aslan Abashidze of violation of human rights.
The facts concerning the exploded bridges, which were blown up upon the order of the Adzharian authorities, are evaluated by Tbilisi as an obvious provocation which is aimed to result in a military intervention as an only way of self-preservation." "The recent activities of Aslan Abashidze are a continuance of the policy, which he is pursuing, i.e. blocking of humanitarian cargoes, dispersion of peaceful mass demonstrations, illegal arrests of citizens, handing out of guns to population and closure of borders. Abashidze, who is using the old system and methods, is now isolated. He has no sense of responsibility and thus he exposes to danger all people in the region," the statement reads.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry "calls upon friendly countries and partner countries to realistically estimate the current situation in Adzharia and to think over the facts of the violation of human rights so that Aslan Abashidze wouldn't count on support on the part of the international community."
