23.10.2003

Chechen refugees may be handed over to Russia

GEORGIA, Tbilisi. Chechen refugees in Pankisi Gorge accuse Georgianauthorities of human rights violations and voice their protest againstthe arrest of three of their compatriots in Pankisi on 11 October.According to the refugees, there was an attempt to hand over thedetained to the Russian FSB officials on the Russian-Georgian border.(*)

According to the statement made in Tbilisi on Tuesday by AslanbekAbdourzakov, chairman of Chechen International Committee for HumanRights, 11 October regional administration officials of GeorgianInterior Ministry arrested three Chechens who have official refugeestatus: Vakha Boukejev, Adam Makalov and Mousa Islamov. Theirwhereabouts are unknown; neither Georgian Interior Ministry, norProsecutor’s Office have commented on the fact of the arrest, said Mr.Abdourzakov. He believes that the men have no connections with criminalgroups, who the authorities have been recently trying to crack down onin Pankisi. He says that Chechen International Committee for HumanRights has issued a statement where they demand to stop persecution ofthe refugees and urge international community to respond to the facts ofhuman rights violations in Georgia. Aslanbek Abdourzakov believes thatthe fact of the unlawful arrest of the refugees is "a new attempt ofGeorgian security services to show their eagerness to the elder brother"."Chechen refugees respect the laws of the Georgian state and don’t wishto create new problems in Georgia, where parliamentary elections are dueto take place on 2 November. However, if no explanations are given aboutthe arrest of their compatriots, they are prepared to stage large-scaleprotests in Pankisi," said Aslanbek Abdourzakov.The fact of the arrest of three Chechens was confirmed by PresidentEduard Shevardnadze who stated at a press conference on Monday that"three Chechens have been arrested on the border who will be handed overto Russia". Shevardnadze did not name the men. At present, the number ofChechen refugees living in Georgia, is estimated to be between 2,000 and4,000.

PRIMA News Agency [2003-10-21-George-03]