 |
| Saakashvili and Abashidze watching as troops march in Batumi to mark President’s inauguration. January 25, 2004 |
President Saakashvili demanded from the Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze to disarm the paramilitary forces. He threatened to disband the Adjarian legislative body and hold snap elections in the region.
“The primary goal at the moment is disarming of illegal [armed] forces in Adjara. Abashidze has four T-72 battle tanks, other armored vehicles and helicopters as well. I am ready to let him have personal bodyguards, but I will not tolerate illegal weapons,” President Saakashvili said on April 9.
“[Abashidze] must disarm [paramilitary forces], otherwise we will disarm them. I will disband the Adjarian Supreme Council [local legislative body] and appoint snap elections in the region. I have a right to do so,” Mikheil Saakashvili added.
“Abashidze has two more years left in his office. If he wants to retain a post [the Head of Adjarian Autonomy] he must surrender illegal arms,” the President said.
Mikheil Saakashvili made these remarks at the meeting with Tengiz Asanidze, who was released by Adjarian leadership after the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights. The meeting was broadcasted live by the Georgian TV stations. The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on April 8 to immediately release Tengiz Asanidze, former mayor of the Adjarian capital Batumi. Batumi court ruling sentencing Asanidze was overturned by the Supreme Court. Later Asanidze was pardoned by the President Eduard Shevardnadze in 1999. However, Abashidze refused to release his former official who fell out of favor.
 |
| According to the Georgia’s central government Abashidze’s forces include: • 1500-strong armed group • four T-72 battle tanks • military vessel |
He also said that he will “not tolerate a checkpoint and fortifications at Choloki” river, which divides Autonomous Republic from the rest of Georgia.
Disarmament of paramilitary forces in Adjara was one of the provisions of the agreement reached by President Saakashvili and Adjarian leader on March 18 in Batumi. A deal ended a five-day crisis, which sparked after Saakashvili was barred by the armed supporters of Abashidze from entering Adjara on March 14. In response the Tbilisi authorities have announced the economic sanctions against the defiant Autonomy.
The President denied speculations over intentions to cancel Adjara’s autonomous status, calling them “a dirty rumor.” Georgian media reports say, Abashidze supporters are rallying the residents of mountainous Khulo and Kobuleti villages by saying Saakashvili is set to abolish the autonomy.
Despite his strong remarks, Saakashvili offered once again Abashidze “to accept the new rules of the game.” “Abashidze is responsible for many wrongdoings. But yet he has a chance to improve the situation,” the President said.
He also said that tens of million dollars are “stolen” by the Adjarian leadership annually. “Only from the Batumi port and oil refinery the budget should receive around $120 million each year, but money goes into the pockets of the corrupt local officials,” Saakashvili said.
President also claimed Adjarian leadership has offered the new Georgian authorities a share in their illegal profits. “But we want this money to be serving the Adjarian people,” the President said.
Saakashvili dispatched his envoys last week to monitor the financial operations at Adjara’s cash rich Batumi port and a Sarpi customs checkpoint at the Turkish border.
He also said that the central authorities will watch closely how human rights are protected in the Autonomous Republic.
“Your case was a vivid example how the local authorities of Adjara violate human rights,” Saakashvili told Tengiz Asanidze. Despite his release, Asanidze was driven by the official car to Batumi airport and flown to Tbilisi without being allowed to meet his relatives and sympathisers in Batumi on April 9.
Saakashvili also argued that decisive action of the central authorities played a key role in his release. “I am sure that Abashidze would have ignored even the European Court of Human Rights if not the demand of the government to release you,” the President added.
Aslan Abashidze agreed to release Asanidze but criticized ECHR’s decision as “biased.”
According to the ECHR decision Georgia should also pay 150,000 euro in compensation to Asanidze at earliest possible date. In addition, 5,000 euro should be paid to the lawyers of Asanidze within three months. The issue of payment is likely to trigger yet another dispute between the Adjarian authorities and the central government.
Georgian Justice Minister Giorgi Papuashvili said on April 8, that the compensation for Asanidze will be paid from the state budget. “But after we will pay the state can demand reimbursement of this sum from those persons responsible for preventing Asanidze’s release,” Papuashvili said, referring to the Adjarian leadership.
