Saakashvili Softens Stance, Wants Snap Elections in Adjara

President Saakashvili denied on April 25 that the country’s central authorities will use force in Adjara and said that discussions over holding snap elections of Adjara’s legislative body are underway.

“The rumors reported by Aslan Abashidze as if we plan to intrude in Adjara are nonsense,” Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news briefing on April 25.

“We have a constitutional right to appoint snap elections in Adjara. The Adjarian population will itself deal with the problem,” the President added.

He called on the Adjarian population to defy the state of emergency, imposed by the local authorities on April 24.

A day before this statement, Mikheil Saakashvili threatened with use of force. “We want peace, but in case of threat to Georgia’s territorial integrity, we will use force without any hesitation,” the Georgian President said on April 24.