Senior MP Warns of ‘Devastating Strikes’ in Case of Threat to Kodori

An influential MP Givi Targamadze, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Security, described breakaway Abkhaz leadership’s condemnation of Tbilisi’s decision to establish the Abkhaz government-in-exile in upper Kodori gorge as “hysteria.”

“Kodori gorge is no longer controlled by their [Abkhaz authorities] allies, I mean [Emzar] Kvitsiani’s gang… and in case the Abkhaz side will pose a threat to this territory [Kodori gorge] they will be hit by a devastating strike. This is our very categorical statement,” MP Targamadze said.

Decision to relocate currently Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government-in-exile was announced on July 27 after officials said that anti-criminal operation against local rebel warlord Kvitsiani and his militias was over.

The Abkhaz authorities said on July 28 that they will use all means, both military and diplomatic, to prevent establishment of the exiled Abkhaz government in Kodori.

“This decision of the Georgian government is yet another step towards fueling tensions. If it happens there will be small room left for us to solve the issue through diplomatic means,” Sergey Shamba, the Foreign Minister of breakaway Abkhazia, told Russian NTV television.

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