Georgia Denies Presence of Chechen Rebels in Pankisi
On November 29 Georgian Ambassador to the Russian Federation Valerie Chechelashvili denied reports that a group of Chechen rebels and foreign mercenaries are still based in Georgia?s north-eastern mountainous gorge of Pankisi.
?This territory is controlled by Georgian security services. Georgian and Russian law enforcement agencies, including border guards, are cooperating on this issue. However, if their Georgian colleagues were provided with information on rebels, it would be a more adequate form of fighting against them,? the Georgian Foreign Ministry quotes Chechelashvili as saying.
The Georgian Ambassador said that the presence of bands comprising of hundreds of rebels in the Pankisi Gorge is impossible.
?Regrettably, messages like these cast a negative shadow over Georgian-Russian relations,? the Ambassador added.
The statement by the Georgian Ambassador was issued by the Georgian Foreign Ministry on its web-site.
Russia?s Counter-Terrorism Operations Center in the North Caucasus alleged that around 280 Chechen fighters and foreign mercenaries are currently based in several villages of Pankisi gorge, RIA Novosti news agency reported on November 29.
