Militants being annihilated in Abkhazia

Armed militant sub-divisions of Abkhazia have completely taken under their control a strategic height (1,036.4 m) in the Kodori Gorge. This was reported today by defence deputy-minister of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia, Garry Kupalba.

According to him, the majority of the Georgian and Chechen militants left the zone controlled by Abkhaz authorities and at the moment, they are on Georgian territory, in upper reaches of the Kodor Gorge. He noticed, that while falling back, the terrorists had mined the ways of withdrawal; therefore, it was really complicated for the Abkhaz military to carry out the operation of checking personal documents. Garry Kupalba said thatmilitary helicopters of the Abkhaz armed forces are involved in the operation. The deputy-minister also said that according to information received this morning, on the territory earlier controlled by militants, military conflicts and skirmishes with small groups of militants took place, RIA ‘Novosti’ reports. Lieutenant Colonel Igor Bedunkevich, the head of Sochi border guard, while answering to journalists questions about the situation on Black Sea coast, announced today the people who had intended to go on holidays to Sochi could do it without any apprehensions. According to him, military actions in Abkhazia are not wide spread. Besides, they take place at a distance of 300 km from the Russian greatest health resort. “Of course, we have intensified the guard unit on the border because of the group of Chechen bandits that penetrated into Abkhazia. However, I don't suppose that there will be any danger to the Sochi area," Igor Bedunkevich said.