Shamil Basayev, Chechen Terrorist No.1, Is Hiding On Georgia's Territory

Georgia's ambassador in Moscow Zurab Abashidze denies that notorious Chechen terrorist Shamil Basayev is currently on his country's territory. The ambassador noted in a RIA Novosti interview that the report of Russian officials that Basayev is staying in the village of Duisi, Ahmeta district, in Georgia, was "refuted by all power departments in Tbilisi." However, it is known, and that was repeatedly declared by representatives of the Russian federal forces, that that district of Georgia has long been under the actual control of armed Chechen warlords and that the local Georgian authorities do not dare to show up there. The Georgian embassy in Moscow does not agree with that, saying that the Georgian authorities "are in full control" of the situation in the Ahmeta district. The Russian mass media have repeatedly published trustworthy facts showing that the situation in the Pankisi gorge on the territory of the Ahmeta district of Georgia had come out of the control of the authorities due to the presence of a large number of armed Chechens there, who are constantly conflicting with the local population. The military sources also point out that armed gunmen had penetrated into the gorge together with the refugees and are setting up their bases there.