Abashidze Sets Conditions
Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze said on March 21 that he would lift state of emergency in Adjara if the central authorities unfreeze accounts of the Batumi-based Maritime Bank.
The Adjarian authorities made all the financial transactions exclusively via the Maritime Bank, whose accounts are frozen after the General Prosecutor’s Office accused the Bank of money laundering.
He also said that appointment of the President’s envoys to Adjara, which will control the operation of port of Batumi and Sarpi customs checkpoint at Turkish border, should be agreed with the Adjarian authorities.
Aslan Abashidze also demanded to appoint the Autonomous Republic’s representatives to the port of Poti and Vale customs, which is Georgia’s another checkpoint at the Turkish border outside the Adjara Autonomous Republic.
President Saakashvili and Adjarian leader Abashidze agreed on March 18 to lift the economic sanctions from Adjara; in exchange Abashidze vowed to lift the state of emergency, to hold free and fair elections, to release political prisoners and disarm paramilitary forces in the region.
