06.05.2004 - Source: Civil Georgia

Adzharia: Abashidze left for Moscow after the overnight talks with the Secretary of Russian National Security Council Igor Ivanov in Batumi; according to Saakashvili direct presidential rule will be imposed on Adzharian Autonomy ("Abashidze Flees Georgia") [#21977],  [ID 5701]

"“Abashidze has fled, Adjara is free,” President Saakashvili said and congratulated Georgians, as he described, “with a second bloodless revolution” in Georgia.

President Saakashvili also said that Abashidze’s resignation “will pave the way for Georgia’s prosperity.” “It will be the beginning of Georgia’s territorial integrity,” Mikheil Saakashvili added.

Aslan Abashidze, who unilaterally ruled Georgia’s western region of Adjara at the Black Sea Coast for past decade, left for Moscow after the overnight talks with the Secretary of Russian National Security Council Igor Ivanov in Batumi.

In scenes reminiscent of the last November "Rose Revolution" news about Abashidze’s resignation triggered celebrations in the streets of Batumi, where thousands of protesters were rallying demanding from Abashidze to step down.
[..]
Reports say that Abashidze left for Russia with his family members and several top officials of his government, who remained loyal to Abashidze till end.
[...]
Direct presidential rule will be imposed on Adjarian Autonomy, according to Mikheil Saakashvili. “A special council will rule the region, before the snap local elections are held in Adjara,” he added."

Document(s): Open document

05.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

Adzharia: thousands of people gathered in the capital Batumi to demand that local leader Aslan Abashidze step down, despite assaults by security forces that injured 2 protesters ("Protesters defy rebel strongman") [#21928],  [ID 5702]

"The Georgian president has declared direct presidential rule over Ajaria, saying the end of rebel rule in the province is only "hours" away.
Mikhail Saakashvili offered Ajaria's long-standing leader, Aslan Abashidze, safe passage abroad as a Russian envoy began talks to broker a settlement.

Mr Abashidze has said he has "no intention of leaving".

He is still backed by an armed militia despite large rallies against his rule in the provincial capital Batumi."

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04.05.2004 - Source: Guardian

Adzharia: rebel leader Aslan Abashidze defied a call from President Mikhail Saakashvili to disband his paramilitary supporters ("Georgia's rebels ready for war") [#21914],  [ID 5703]

"Civil war in Georgia moved a step closer yesterday as rebel leader Aslan Abashidze defied a call from President Mikhail Saakashvili to disband his paramilitary supporters and submit to Tbilisi's will.

Armed groups roamed Adzharia - the fiefdom carved out by Mr Abashidze on the country's Black Sea coast - in defiance of the ultimatum.

Mr Abashidze accused the Georgian leadership of treating the Adzharian constitution as "a meaningless scrap of paper".

"Saakashvili has no levers to implement his ultimatum because Adzharia has its own constitution and its own constitutional order," the rebel leader told the Russian television channel Rossiya.

Asked by the RIA Novosti news agency how the standoff with Tbilisi might develop, he said: "We expect war."

Tension rose at the weekend when Mr Abashidze destroyed bridges linking Adzharia to the rest of the country, in response to Georgian army manoeuvres nearby. He said the army planned to invade, an accusation denied by Tbilisi."

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03.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

President Saakashvili accused Russian general of being behind the blowing-up of three bridges linking Georgia to Adzharia ("Georgia blames Russians in crisis") [#21915],  [ID 5704]

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03.05.2004 - Source: Caucasian Knot

Adzharia: Food and necessities have risen in price in Batumi ("Food, necessities rise in price in Batumi (Novosti-Gruzia Information Agency)") [#21973],  [ID 5705]

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02.05.2004 - Source: Civil Georgia

Saakashvili gives 10-day ultimatum to Abashidze to disband his paramilitary forces, otherwise Saakashvili threatened with dissolving local governmental bodies ("Saakashvili Gives ‘Last Chance’ to Abashidze") [#21819],  [ID 5706]

"President Saakashvili demanded once again from defiant Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze on May 2 to disband his paramilitary forces within 10 days, otherwise threatened with dissolving Adjara’s governmental bodies.

Mikheil Saakashvili’s ultimatum to Aslan Abashidze follows explosion of two key bridges in Adjara, linking troubled region with the rest of Georgia, by the local authorities on May 2 - an act described by the Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze as a self-defense against anticipated incursion of the Georgian armed forces.
(...)
Aslan Abashidze refused to disarm his paramilitary forces on April 13 that triggered re-escalation of tensions between Tbilisi and Batumi. He also refused to hold re-run parliamentary elections in Adjara’s two districts on April 18.

Two key bridges – Choloki and Kakuti were blown up at 1 pm local time on Sunday, hence destroying the only road links between the Autonomy and the rest of Georgia."

Document(s): Open document

26.04.2004 - Source: Guardian

President Saakashvili threatens to use force against the breakaway region of Adzharia ("Georgia on the brink of civil war") [#21729],  [ID 5707]

"Georgia was drawn to the brink of civil war yesterday after President Mikhail Saakashvili threatened to use force against the breakaway region of Adzharia.

Raising the stakes in a simmering feud with the local strongman Aslan Abashidze, Mr Saakashvili urged the people of the Black Sea region to defy a curfew and state of emergency ordered at the weekend by his rival.

He denied suggestions that an invasion of Adzharia was imminent, but promised to liberate the region from a "criminal regime" - by force if necessary.
[...]
Adzharia has been Mr Saakashvili's most belligerent critic, saying his nationalist rhetoric betrays his disrespect for the rule of law and human rights.

Troops and paramilitary police loyal to Mr Abashidze have patrolled the region and guarded its borders for weeks. Some roads have reportedly been mined in anticipation of an invasion by Tbilisi.

On Saturday, Mr Abashidze reverted to a state of emergency and curfew, but Mr Saakashvili urged defiance. "These decisions are illegal, and therefore I am calling on the people of Adzharia not to obey them," he said.
[...]
But last Friday, the Georgian parliament authorised Mr Saakashvili to "take legal action" against those violating human rights of Adzharians and to take steps to disarm "illegal armed groups".

It was the first time Mr Saakashvili has sought parliamentary authority to take military action against Adzharia, and prompted high-level speculation of an invasion."

Document(s): Open document

18.04.2004 - Source: Civil Georgia

Adzharia: Abashidze fears military incursion by central Giorgian authorities ("Abashidze Fears Incursion") [#21456],  [ID 5708]

"In an interview to the Russian newspaper Vremia Novostei published on April 19, Adjarian leaders Aslan Abashidze said that the central authorities of Georgia plan military incursion in the Autonomous Republic.

“There will be attempts of incursion in Adjara. It might happen tomorrow, day after tomorrow, it might happen any time. So we are watching situation in Georgia very closely,” Aslan Abashidze said.

Abashidze also said that international efforts are underway to defuse tensions.

“Our prime goal is to avoid confrontation. Representatives of the EU member states, also United States, Turkey and Russia arrive here. EU’s special representative in the South Caucasian countries Heikki Talvite will be visiting Adjara on Friday [April 23]. All of them try to contribute in the resolution [of the crisis],” the Adjarian leader said."

Document(s): Open document

13.04.2004 - Source: Civil Georgia

Adjara: Growing tensions as Adjarian leader Abashidze reportedly refuses disarmament ("Tensions Grow, as Abashidze Says No to Disarmament") [#21392],  [ID 5709]

"Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said after talks with Adjarian leader that Aslan Abashidze has chosen “a way of confrontation,” as the talks on April 13 failed to bring progress into troubled relations of the central authorities with Adjara's self-minded leader. Aslan Abashidze is strongly opposing the demands of the Geogian government to disarm the vigilante groups.
[...]
President Saakashvili warned Adjarian authorities on April 12 once again that in case of refusal to disarm paramilitary forces, he would disband the local legislative body – the Supreme Council and appoint snap elections. “I have the constitutional right to do so,” Saakashvili said.
[...]
According to the Georgian central authorities Abashidze’s forces include 1500-strong well-trained military unit, four T-72 battle tanks, one military vessel and a helicopter.
In addition, as the Prime Minister said on April 13, around 2,000-3,000 firearms have been distributed among Abashidze’s supporters in recent months to form the vigilante groups. President Saakashvili offered the Adjarians to buy out these firearms. Zhvania said that the central authorities, with the assistance of a group of businessmen, were ready to allocate $500,000 for this initiative.

Moreover, the problem persists in regard of the 25th brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces, which is deployed in Adjarian capital Batumi. The commander of this military detachment Gen. Roman Dumbadze has refused to obey the orders of the President."

Document(s): Open document

25.03.2004 - Source: BBC News

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has annulled the diplomatic passports of the leader of the breakaway region of Ajaria and 500 other officials ("Ajaria leader's passport revoked") [#20781],  [ID 5710]

"Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has annulled the diplomatic passports of the leader of the breakaway region of Ajaria and 500 other officials.
He also accused Ajaria's authorities of planning to bring in mercenaries to fight in a possible conflict.

The latest move is part of a continuing war of words between Tbilisi and Ajaria's leader, Aslan Abashidze.

The two sides stood on the brink of war after Mr Saakashvili was denied entry into the region earlier this month."

Document(s): Open document

24.03.2004 - Source: Prima News

Adzharia: United opposition “Our Ajaria” protests against Russian tanks operating on the territory Adzharia ("Russian tanks travel through Ajaria") [#20695],  [ID 5711]

Document(s): Open document

22.03.2004 - Source: Prima News

Adzharia: Saakashvili and Abashidze reach agreement on resolving crisis ("Adzhar Crisis Resolved") [#20719],  [ID 5712]

"After five hours of negotiations, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Adzhari leader Aslan Abashidze have reached an agreement. Under its conditions Adzhar authorities will ensure free and democratic parliamentary elections in the autonomous republic on 28 March; they will review the cases of opposition members arrested in Adzharia and release political prisoners; a presidential representative will be established who together with the local authorities will control Sarpi customs and the Batumi sea port; illegal armed units founded in Adzharia will be disarmed and citizens who received weapons from the Adzhari authorities will return them."

Document(s): Open document

18.03.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Adzharia: Abashidze gives up key powers after meeting Georgian president Saakashvili ("Saakashvili Strikes Ajaria Deal") [#20531],  [ID 5713]

"A four-hour meeting between Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili and rebel leader Aslan Abashidze, the head of the Black Sea region of Ajaria, ended in a breakthrough on March 18 with Abashidze giving up key powers that he has enjoyed for years.

Saakashvili announced that a blockade imposed on Ajaria by the central authorities would be lifted at midnight. The Georgian authorities had begun blockading the autonomous republic after the local authorities turned back Saakashvili as he attempted to visit the region on March 14.

A visit by parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze on March 17 appears to have broken the deadlock. Under intense pressure from Tbilisi and with his closest ally, Moscow, officially proclaiming neutrality, Abashidze made major concessions.

First of all, Abashidze gave his assurance that preparations for parliamentary elections on March 28 would go ahead unhindered and that all political parties would be allowed to campaign for votes. The general prosecutor’s office in Tbilisi will review all cases of people detained in recent political rallies and clashes in Ajaria. “Those people who were detained because they were engaged in political activity ought to be set free,” Saakashvili said.

The two leaders also agreed that all armed groups in Ajaria should be disarmed and that weapons given out to the population should be surrendered to the authorities.

Saakashvili said that a new post of “representative of the president of Georgia” would be set up in the autonomous republic, and that its holder would share responsibility for the customs service and the port of Batumi – which have for the last ten years provided the main revenues for Ajaria and the Abashidze administration."

Document(s): Open document

18.03.2004 - Source: EurasiaNet

Georgian President Saakashvili orders lifting of blockade against Adzharia after talks with Adzharian leader Abashidze ("Georgian President Announces End To Ajaria Blockade") [#20503],  [ID 5714]

Document(s): Open document

18.03.2004 - Source: Prima News

According to President Mikhail Saakashvili Georgia starts economic blockade of Autonomous Republic of Adzharia ("Economic blockade of Adzharia") [#20499],  [ID 5715]

Document(s): Open document

18.03.2004 - Source: Prima News

Adzharia: Russian tanks open fire in Gonio (near Batumi); according to Russian Embassy firing is part of an exercise ("Russian tanks in Adzharia opened fire") [#20495],  [ID 5716]

Document(s): Open document

16.03.2004 - Source: BBC News

Georgia has put its armed forces on a state of high alert after its new president, Mikhail Saakashvili, was denied entry to the semi-autonomous region of Ajaria ("Ajaria stand-off tests Georgian president") [#20475],  [ID 5717]

Document(s): Open document

16.03.2004 - Source: Prima News

Georgia’s national security minister states that weapons are being distributed to the population of Adzharia ("Weapons handed out in Adzharia") [#20496],  [ID 5718]

"Zurab Adeyishvili told a government meetin on 15 March in Poti that the Adzharian authorities have for a long time been preparing the special forces, who have had training from well-known Russian generals, among others.

According to the minister the special troops, numbering up to one thousand soldiers, are under the direct command of Adzharian leader Aslan Abashidze. Adeyishvili also said that these troops have in turn, over the last few years, armed and trained local squadrons which are in the majority of cases led by criminals."

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2004 - Source: Prima News

Georgian president Saakashvili demands Abashidze to punish organisers of repression in Abkhazia, enclave will not be tolerated ("Saakashvili demands Abashidze punish organisers of repression") [#20715],  [ID 5719]

"The Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili, has stated that if the head of Adzaria, Aslan Abashidze, does not punish the organisers of repression in the autonomous republic within six days, then criminal cases will be opened against local leaders and they will be detained. Saakashvili mentioned that he will not tolerate the fact that an “enclave has been created”."

Document(s): Open document

09.03.2004 - Source: Prima News

Adzharia: Several units of heavy artillery from Russian military base stationed in Adzharia ("Russia sets tanks on the road to Ajaria") [#20712],  [ID 5720]

Document(s): Open document

02.03.2004 - Source: EurasiaNet

As elections approach, politcal tension, including violent attacks, rises between government and Ajaria ("Political Tension Rises Between Georgian Government And Recalcitrant Region Of Ajaria") [#20114],  [ID 4579]

Document(s): Open document

02.03.2004 - Source: EurasiaNet

As elections approach, politcal tension, including violent attacks, rises between government and Ajaria ("Political Tension Rises Between Georgian Government And Recalcitrant Region Of Ajaria") [#20114],  [ID 5721]

Document(s): Open document

20.01.2004 - Source: EurasiaNet

Ajaria: Report on the political situation and emerging tensions after the resignation of Shevardnadze ("In Troublesome Georgian Province, Fears Grow Amidst Deep Discord") [#19445],  [ID 5722]

"Ajaria, the restive breakaway province of Georgia, drew the international spotlight in November 2003 when its autocratic leader tried unsuccessfully to attach himself to former Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze. When Shevardnadze agreed to step aside, Ajarian strongman Aslan Abashidze threatened to boycott ensuing elections. Though he withdrew this threat, Abashidze reintroduced a “state of emergency” shortly after the January 4 election. His insistence on grasping power has raised fears that his regime will not end as peacefully as Shevardnadze’s did."

Document(s): Open document

15.01.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

A political confrontation is emerging in semi-independent province of Ajaria, with supporters of the Kmara movement fighting the supporters of Abashidze ("Georgia: Ajaria Tension Grows") [#18799],  [ID 5723]

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25.11.2003 - Source: Prima News

Georgia/Adzhariya: “The Union for Democratic Revival” announced a boycott of the repeated parliamentary and presidential elections; state of emergency declared in Autonomous Republic of Adzhariya; contacts to the centre have been temporarily severed ("Supporters of Shevardhadze gather in Batumi") [#17829],  [ID 4584]

Document(s): Open document

25.11.2003 - Source: Prima News

Georgia/Adzhariya: “The Union for Democratic Revival” announced a boycott of the repeated parliamentary and presidential elections; state of emergency declared in Autonomous Republic of Adzhariya; contacts to the centre have been temporarily severed ("Supporters of Shevardhadze gather in Batumi") [#17829],  [ID 5725]

"“The Union for Democratic Revival” announced a boycott of the repeated parliamentary and early presidential elections. At the moment almost all the leaders of “The Union for Democratic Revival” are in Batumi.

The head of the Autonomous Republic of Adzhariya, Aslan Abashidze announced on Sunday evening that a state of emergency had been declared in Adzhariya and contacts with the centre severed until the situation there had been clarified. In his address on Adzhar television Abashidze also announced the borders of the autonomous republic were being closed."

Document(s): Open document

14.11.2003 - Source: EurasiaNet

Ajaria: Commentary on the current political situation ("Deploying Abashidze, Georgia’s President Raises Stakes") [#19443],  [ID 5726]

Document(s): Open document