Tbilisi Deploys ‘Elite Troops’ to Protect Villages Near Abkhazia

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said, at a governmental session on January 12, that units of Georgia’s “elite troops” were deployed in the Georgian villages that are located at the administrative border with breakaway Abkhazia to ensure security there.

Earlier, Gigi Ugulava, the Governor of Samegrelo region, which borders breakaway Abkhazia, said that police checkpoints will be installed in every village located across the Enguri river, which divides breakaway Abkhazia from the rest of Georgia.

The decision was taken after at least 11 civilians were kidnapped from the Georgian village of Ganmukhuri on January 11, when an armed group, described by Georgian officials as “Abkhaz criminals,” raided the village.  Ganmukhuri is located in the Zugdidi district of the Samegrelo region, at the administrative border with Abkhazia.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)