Georgia and Abkhazia draw troops to the borders

According to the TV company "Rustavi 2", a state of emergency has been introduced in Abkhazia, and the government military forces are located in the Ochamchirsk district adjoining the Galsk district.

The government of Abkhazia states that the Georgian authorities have opened a few additional check-points at the border and an additional military unit has been brought to Zugdidi (Georgia). A Georgian TV company has broadcast the statement of Ruslan Kishmariya, official representative of the government of Abkhazia. He claims that the Georgian authorities intend to locate additional troops in Zugdidi. The Abkhazian authorities are concerned about escalation of events in Gali.

Today, Merab Antadze, Georgian state minister for settling conflicts has highlighted the necessity to open a UN office on human rights in Gali and called on bringing international police forces to Gali.

The political movement "Ourselves" speaks about a possible armed conflict in Upper Abkhazia (Kodor Gorge). Paata Davitaya, leader of the association, has stated at the today's press-conference that it is for this purpose that the general mobilization is under way in Abkhazia.

He notes that the headquarters of the general mobilization are located 8  kilometers from Upper Abkhazia, in the village of Gulripshi. According to Davitaya, there has been no mobilization such as this since 1998 and it has nothing to do with the events in Gali because the situation there is controlled by Abkhazians.

"The Gali events may hide something else. It is quite possible that it is connected with Upper Abkhazia," - notes Davitaya.

In connection with the situation, the political association "Ourselves" calls upon the government of Georgia to announce general mobilization and prevent the involvement of the Georgian people in the provocation.

Three Abkhazian militiamen were killed and one seriously wounded as a result of terrorist acts in the Gali district on December 25 and 26.