Officials Warn Locals to Keep Away from Kodori Militia

Officials in Tbilisi say that a police operation in upper Kodori gorge will last as long as necessary for the ?full demolition of those persons who are forcefully confronting the country?s unity.?

?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,? Giorgi Arveladze, chief of the Georgian President?s Administration, said at a news conference in Tbilisi.

He confirmed that ?several law enforcers? were injured after the rebel militiamen, led by former local official Emzar Kvitsiani, 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 ruled out holding talks with the rebels.

?The only thing we have offered them is to surrender, but they have refused,? he added.

He also said that the authorities? ?major goal? is to protect the interest of the local peaceful population and ?to render them assistance in this very difficult time.?

Arveladze?s comment remains the only official statement made by executive authorities so far about developments in Kodori gorge. The first official statement about the launch of a, as authorities call it, ?police operation? was made by Education Minister Kakha Lomaia late on July 25.

Information coming from Kodori remains extremely scares and conflicting. Phone communication with the gorge was cut and reporters are barred from entering the area for security reasons.

Meanwhile, an Abkhaz source reported in the afternoon of July 26 that it is currently calm in the upper Kodori gorge, which is the only territory of the breakaway region not under the secessionist authorities? control.

?Georgian police forces are currently in Azhara and Gentsvishi villages [of upper Kodori Gorge], where they are checking locals? IDs,? chief of staff of the breakaway Abkhaz army Anatoly Zaitsev told Interfax news agency.

He also said that rebel warlord Emzar Kvitsiani?s militiamen have stopped their resistance and dispersed into the forest.
 
Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television reported that the Georgian police forces are conducting house-to-house searches in some of the villages of Kodori Gorge. No independent confirmation of any of this report is available.