25 March 2004, 12:58
Adjarian leader refuses to disarm militia
Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze said he would not disarm the autonomous republic's militia in the near future.
"The militia in the autonomous republic will be disarmed when democracy is built in Georgia," Mr Abashidze said to the local television early on March 25.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili demanded earlier that the disarmament of the so-called "volunteer units" in Adjaria be started immediately.
The Adjarian leader confirmed that "the people have had weapons since 1991, when about 7,000 recidivists specially released from prison tried to break into the autonomous republic. Then, only armed militia were able to save Adjaria and defend the constitutional system," he said.
"The militia are continuing to defend their homes, their families and this same constitutional system," he said.
Aslan Abashidze branded as "ridiculous" the Georgian president's allegations that the Adjarian leadership intended to secretly bring in mercenary fighters from Ukraine and Chechnya.
Source: RosBusinessConsulting News Agency
