"ESCALATION OF TENSION" IN SEPARATIST ABKHAZIA

Channel 1
July 19 2009
Tbilisi Georgia

The situation has escalated in the villages of Gali District [ethnic
Georgian-populated district of Abkhazia adjacent to Georgian-controlled
territory]. The so-called Abkhaz border guards have been stationed
in three villages of Gali District, and they have no intention to
leave the villages of the lower zone. The separatists were firing
randomly all night. Traffic has been blocked in the direction
of Gali and Zugdidi [near Abkhazia]. The so-called Abkhaz border
guards are demanding that a curfew be imposed from 2000 hours [1600
gmt]. Video footage obtained by "Moambe" [news programme] shows how
the Russian occupiers force the Abkhaz separatists to leave the entire
perimeter of the Inguri [river which divides Abkhazia from the rest
of Georgia]. The Russian occupiers brought gunmen of North Caucasian
and Armenian origin to Abkhazia. The only place where the so-called
Abkhaz border guards still remain is the checkpoint erected on the
Inguri central bridge in the village of Chuburkhinji of Gali District.