Russian Official Defies Tbilisi’s Wish to Expel Chief Peacekeeper

Sergey Chaban, commander of the Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia, will continue to perform his duties despite Georgia’s demand, deputy chief of the Russian land forces in charge of peacekeeping operation, Valery Evnevich, told RIA Novosti news agency.

President Saakashvili said on October 30 after the Incident in Ganmukhuri that Chaban was “undesirable person” and he should leave Georgia.

“Collective peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia perform their duties in accordance to the mandate of Commonwealth of Independent States [CIS] and the commander is appointed by a decision of CIS heads of states,” Evnevich said. “General Chaban will continue to perform his duties before a new commander is not appointed.”

Gela Bezhuashvili, the Georgian foreign minister, however, said at the session of Georgia’s National Security Council later on October 30, that Chaban was performing his duties as commander of the Russian peacekeepers “illegally.”

Bezhuashvili told the President that the Georgian side did not give its approval to Chaban’s appointment at the recent CIS summit in Dushanbe in early October.

“So we have officially notified the Russian side about our desire to see Gen. Chaban out of Georgia,” Bezhuashvili said.

President Saakashvili said at the session of National Security Council that it was his “very principle decision” to expel Chaban out of Georgia.

“As far as I know he is currently in Sokhumi [breakaway Abkhaz capital],” he said, “but Sokhumi is also part of Georgia and he should leave it.”

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