The Georgian authorities have called on local civilians to leave those areas where rebel militiamen are concentrated in Kodori gorge.
Giorgi Arveladze, chief of the Georgian President’s Administration, said on July 26 that the local population should leave the gorge, as “it is now difficult to distinguish” local civilians from militiamen.
“The ground will burn beneath their [rebel militia members’] feet, so we call on the local population to keep away from the places where they [militiamen] are concentrated,” Arveladze said at a news conference in Tbilisi.
“Our major goal, the major goal of the President is to protect the interest of the local peaceful population and to render them assistance in this very difficult time,” Arveladze added.
He confirmed that several law enforcers were injured after the militiamen opened fire on July 25, but refused to specify the number of casualties.
Earlier on July 26 Georgian media sources reported that four police officers have been brought from Kodori Gorge to a hospital in Zugdidi, a town in the Samegrelo region.
Arveladze also said that the police operation in Kodori gorge will last as long as it will be needed for “full demolition of those persons who are forcefully resisting the country’s unity.”
“There is no time for talks with these bandits. The only thing we have offered them is to surrender, but they have refused,” Arveladze said.
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