Aslan Abashidze's interior minister defects to Georgia

[He219]

http://cache.*****images.com/comp/50803143.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=B84D4F1548A4F56E7706DB009AF43127A9C30E9B9B114CE8


CHOLOKI, GEORGIA: Georgia's Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania (L) shakes hands with Jemal Gogitidze in Choloki 05 May 2004. Aslan Abashidze's interior minister and right-hand man Jemal Gogitidze decided to switch allegiance to the central government after talks with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/***** Images)

Interesting after blowing up bridges ...

http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2004/05/05/image615598x.jpg
A bridge linking Georgia to the province Adzhara is blown up by forces loyal to the Adzharan leader, Aslan Abashidze. (Photo: AP /APTN)

05.05.2004 07:52:00 GMT
"The situation is explosive through the fault of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who wants to establish a dictatorship in Ajaria. The Georgian authorities were planning to put citizens ahead of the armed forces. So we were forced to blow up bridges near the administrative border,"- Gogitidze said.



Your thoughts?
p-)

[He219]

One hour left.


Wed May 5, 6:45 AM ET
Georgia has given rebel Adzhara leader Aslan Abashidze two to three hours to "avoid bloodshed" in his stand-off with the government, Security Council head Vano Merabishvili said on Wednesday.

"You have two or three hours to obey the president of Georgia and avoid bloodshed," he told state television.



"I am ready to give full safety guarantees to Abashidze and members of his family if they leave Adzhara and go abroad," ******* quoted Saakashvili as saying in a television address.

"We will not demand his extradition. This condition will be fulfilled if Abashidze resigns of his own accord and leaves his post in the region."

Abashidze is also set to make a TV address later after many police officers joined 10,000 protesters denouncing his rule in the center of the regional capital Batumi.

One police commander, Akhmed Devadze, told The Associated Press that 175 officers had gone over to the protesters.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/05/05/georgia/index.html

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040505/capt.mosb80905051834.georgia_adzharia_mosb809.jpg

Leader of Georgia's Adzharia region Aslan Abashidze speaks on Adzharian television in the Adzharian capital Batumi, Wednesday, May 5, 2004, in this image from television. Thousands of people protested in the tense capital Wednesday, calling for the defiant leader to resign amid signs he was losing support in his standoff with the central government over control of the Black Sea province. At left in the background is Adzharian flag. The sign on bottom, right, reads Adzharia. (AP Photo/NTV-Russian Television Channel)

[mack pl]

Abashidze-"red prince".I hope this conflict will ended without fights :|

[He219]

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=598546

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040505/capt.mosb11005052020.georgia_adzharia_mosb110.jpg

Members of Adzharia's Interior Ministry forces cross the Choloki River, to join Georgian President's side on the border between Georgia and Adzharian region, Wednesday, May 5, 2004. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Thursday the leader of the rebellious Adzhara region, long at odds with central authorities, had left the country.

"Georgians: Aslan has fled! Adzhara is free!" a beaming Saakashvili told a televised news briefing from his office, referring to Adzharan leader Aslan Abashidze.

"Today a new era has started. I congratulate everyone on this victory, on the beginning of Georgia's unification. Georgia will be united. No one could oppose the will of the people today and no one will do so in future."

(AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)

[Fox2]

I was going to create a new thread for this, but I've got a related question, so I might as well post it here.

Can anyone explain all this stuff happening in Georgia? I am not very familiar with the country at all. I mean, I can point it out on the map and tell you it used to be part of the USSR, but that about covers my knowledge on the country. ;)

A couple months ago, I believe, there was some sort of coup, and now, there is this rogue region or somesuch. So, is this splinter region of Adzhara supportive of the former regime, or am I missing something entirely? I am a bit confused about the parties involved, their motives, and how each of them might relate to the US. So, if anyone could give me a brief synopsis, that'd be great. :D

[He219]

Fox2: This video (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/05/uttm/main615597.shtml) is a good synopsis ...

p-)



Edit: Use the Multimedia link

[Uninen]

Russians need to take over Georgia, and soon, or their game is gonna be over.... :|

[He219]

Too late.

:P

[Uninen]

Too late.

:P
Not by far, just sit back and watch. ;) I will. :)

[nerdman]

Russians need to take over Georgia, and soon, or their game is gonna be over.... :|

Thanks for the advice Tom Clancy.

BTW Ghost Recon was a good game.

[He219]

Really, too late.

also:


Ratification by NATO Allies of the Adapted Treaty is awaiting Russia's compliance with adapted CFE flank provisions and continued fulfillment of its Istanbul summit commitments regarding withdrawals of Russian forces from Georgia and Moldova. The Adapted Treaty will enter into force 10 days after instruments of ratification have been deposited by all States Parties.
http://www.state.gov/t/ac/rls/fs/11243.htm

p-)

[Fox2]

Fox2: This video (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/05/uttm/main615597.shtml) is a good synopsis ...

p-)



Edit: Use the Multimedia link

Thanks, He219, that helps a ton. I believe I get the gist of it now. :D

[seruriermarshal]

Bless Georgia !