Chechens in Georgia Say No to Repatriation

Chechen refugees living in the Pankisi Gorge of Georgia refused to return to Chechnya, quoting the lack of security.

The Russian delegation led by the Minister for Chechen Affairs Stanislav Iliasov arrived to Pankisi Gorge on September 30 to convince Chechen refugees to voluntarily return to Russian Federation.

The delegation brought 20 tons of the humanitarian aid consisting of warm clothes and food. The refugees refused the Russian aid.

?We do not trust them [Russian authorities]. They need us only to score points on the eve of the elections. We will not return until the Russian troops are withdrawn from Chechnya,? one of the Chechen refugees told Civil Georgia on September 30.

This is the second unsuccessful visit of the Russian delegation to Pankisi. The first one took place in early September.

Up to 3,700 Chechen refugees, who fled the second Chechen war in 1999,presently live in Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge .

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