Saakashvili Calls on Abashidze to Disarm Paramilitary Forces

President Saakashvili categorically warned Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze to disarm his paramilitary forces, otherwise threatened with dissolving the Adjarian Parliament and holding of snap elections in the defiant region.

“The primary goal at the moment is disarmament of illegal forces in Adjara. Abashidze has four T-72 battle tanks, other armored vehicles and helicopters. I am ready to let him have personal bodyguards, but I will not tolerate illegal weapons,” President Saakashvili said on April 9.

“He [Abashidze] must disarm [paramilitary forces], otherwise we will disarm them,” Mikheil Saakashvili added.

The President made these remarks at the meeting with Tengiz Asanidze, who was released by Adjarian leadership after European Court of Human Rights’ ruling. The meeting was broadcasted live by the Georgian TV stations.

Mikheil Saakashvili said that the international community“fully supports willingness of Georgia’s central government to disarm these gangs” in Adjara.