Interior Minister: Rebel Warlord is in Russia

Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili told President Saakashvili during a meeting on July 29 that wanted warlord Emzar Kvitsiani is now in Russia.

?So he [Kvitsiani] has joined those [political] corpses ? [wanted ex-security chief Igor] Giorgadze, [ex-Adjarian leader Aslan] Abashidze and [ex-Interior Minister of Adjara Autonomous Republic Jemal] Gogitidze ? who are currently in Russia. I do not understand why Russia needs these people, and I also do not understand why Russia needs to stage this kind of provocation [referring to a defiance of warlord Emzar Kvitsiani],? President Saakashvili said during the meeting with the Interior Minister.

Russia has already denied that Kvitsiani is in its territory.

?We have no information of this kind. At the same time, we want to stress that through diplomatic channels the Georgian side has informed us that they do not have information about the whereabouts of Emzar Kvitsiani,? RIA Novosti news agency quoted source in the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi.

On July 28 chief of the Georgian President?s Administration Giorgi Arveladze said that Kvitsiani was in the breakaway Abkhaz capital Sokhumi. 

During the meeting President Saakashvili instructed the Interior Minister to step up ?counter-intelligence activities.?

?The special services of some foreign states are seriously engaged in the country. We should put an end to their provocative plans,? Saakashvili said.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)