3 Georgians Arrested in Abkhazia

Abkhaz militia arrested three Georgians for ?illegally crossing the border? on March 1, Abkhaz sources reported.

According to the Georgian side, the three men are activists from the New Generation for United Georgia group and residents of the Gali District of Abkhazia who were arrested while returning back to the Gali District after holding a media briefing in the Georgian-controlled Zugdidi district.

Following the arrests, there was a half-hour shootout between Georgian Interior Ministry forces and Abkhaz militiamen. 

The Abkhaz sources say that the three activists were sent to Abkhazia to convince local Georgians to boycott the March 4 parliamentary elections in the breakaway region. Georgian sources also confirm that the group operating under the name New Generation for United Georgia campaigns in support of a boycott, but they say that the campaign is carried out by activists who are local Georgians living in the Gali District of Abkhazia.

The group, which claims to be non-governmental organization, has emerged in recent months and held several protest rallies near the bridge over the Enguri river, which links breakaway Abkhazia with the rest of Georgia.

It is not yet clear whether there is a link between the group and an organization operating in the Gali District under the name ?Patriots for Abkhazia.? The latter has claimed responsibility for allegedly burning down homes of those Georgians in Gali who are suspected of collaborating with the secessionist authorities of Abkhazia.

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