Arms Cache Found Near Pankisi

(Tbilisi, June 24, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Georgian State Security Ministry found a large number of weapons and ammunitions in Pshavi region, which is near Pankisi gorge.  

Large number of machine-guns, grenade-launchers, hand-grenades and ammunition allegedly belonged to the Chechen militants.

?We think that the arms were left by the militants, who left Pankisi gorge last year as a result of the anti-terrorist operation in the gorge,? Nika Laliashvili, Spokesman for the Security Ministry told the reporters today.

He did not rule out presence of other arms caches in Pankisi gorge and nearby regions.

Nika Laliashvili Spokesman for the State Security Ministry said today that was found in the hidden cache.

In March Georgian law enforcers found a large number of weapons in Barisakho village, northern Georgia, near the Chechen section of the Russo-Georgian border.