Senior MP: Russia Armed Rebel Militias

Influential MP Givi Targamadze, who chairs the parliamentary committee for defense and security, said that the defiant Kodori-based warlord Emzar Kvitsiani has ?a well-equipped? paramilitary group that was armed by Russia.

He told Rustavi 2 television that that ?relevant structures? are currently working to solve the issue ?and I am sure that the Kvitsiani problem will be solved very soon and effectively.?

Emzar Kvitsiani, who has challenged the central authority of Tbilisi, is a chief of the Monadire paramilitary group based in the Kodori gorge in breakaway Abkhazia.

Until 2004 Kvitsiani was the Georgian President?s official representative to the gorge, which is the only territory of the breakaway region not controlled by the secessionist Abkhaz authorities.

MP Givi Targamadze admitted that the government mada a mistake in not tackling the problem of the Monadire paramilitary group and disarming it earlier.

Kvitsiani announced his defiance towards the country?s central authorities on July 22, under the pretext that the Defense Ministry was planning an ?attack on gorge? to disarm his militiamen.

But officials in Tbilisi say that Kvitsiani?s actions are Russian-orchestrated provocations, which aim at stirring tensions in Georgia.

On July 24 President Saakashvili ruled out holding talks with the rebel warlord, vowing to curb activities against the country?s unity and statehood.

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