12 January 2004, 21:11
Interior Minister of Adjaria denies existence of political repressions in republic
The police of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic detained two activists of the Kmara youth movement, Khazhomia and Chkhartishvili, and members of their families a few days ago. During a search at the places of the detainees' residence, the police officers allegedly found illegal narcotic substances and a hand grenade. Mikhail Khazhomia's brother is charged with storage of heroin. Family members of the detained activists flatly deny the aforementioned facts. Adjarian Interior Minister Djemal Gogitidze asserts that the ground for the detention of the Kmara activists was the infraction of the law, which they will account for.
"Nobody in Adjaria is persecuted by political motives. The Interior Ministry will always act within the limits of the law, regardless of who violates the law," declared the Adjarian Interior Minister during a specially convoked briefing.
Editors note: See also the article "Georgian authorities demand evidence of guilt of Kmara movement activists arrested in Adjaria".
Source: BatumiNews International News Agency
