The events in the Caucasus which have happened during the few recent years should be considered on the background of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the appearance of a new geostrategic distribution of forces at the threshold of the 21th century.

Natural aspiration of Transcaucasian republics for complete independence has run across the wish of Russia to preserve and keep them in the sphere of its influence. "The policy of keeping" comprised all the set of traditional methods: overthrow of the unwanted governments, oppression of their supporters, economic sanctions, support of one of the conflict sides, etc. The entire three Transcaucasian republics were involved in fratricidal wars.

Georgia was especially unlucky. It was here that they laid the base and the beginning of the desecration of democracy at the territory of former USSR. Georgia was the first of the republic of the Union, where the Communist Party lost its power in the result of free elections. The new political forces, which came to power proclaimed independence of Georgia, its leaving USSR. They stood for the formation of Common Caucasian Home - political state of the Caucasus with common economic area, tried to reconcile Armenia and Azerbaijan and declared restoration of its foreign political credo of mediator between the East and the West, between the Christian and Muslim world.

However, such development of the events in the Caucasus did not at all satisfy definite military and political forces in Russia. Georgia had always played the role of the warrantor and protector of Russian geopolitical interests in the Caucasus.

It is a known fact: Michael Gorbachov warned Zviad Gamsakhurdia over the telephone about the possible serious consequences, expecting Georgia if it left USSR. And really Communist authorities of South Ossetian Autonomous Region proclaimed the region a soviet republic with the intention to enter USSR. In this way first knot of the large-scale conflict was tied up.

But Abkhazia had to play the main part in the anti-Caucasian policy of Russia and in the suppression of Georgia. There were two reasons for it.

The first one-special loyalty of Abkhazia towards Russia ("Abkhazia is Russia"), and. second, closeness of its authorities to the heads of the Condeferation of Mountain Nations of the Caucasus (Sukhumi was made the capital of this organization).

Transportation of the troops of the State Council of Georgia to Abkhazia only accelerated the execution of the invented plan, and practically became a great victory of Russian diplomacy, as they got a real possibility to have political and military impact on Georgia, and in the meantime it made impossible the alliance of Georgia with the North Caucasus. The same plan envisaged ethnic purge of Georgian inhabitants in Abkhazia and formation of "vacant" area for further settling in with migrants from Russia.

"... Having vacant areas in possession we could make a good start for settling Russian inhibitants in Abkhazia"... It is an extract from a letter of general-governor of Kutaisi Svyatopolsk-Mirski to another Russian general, and it was written more than a hundred years ago (!). The consequences of this war were catastrophic for the inhabitants of Abkhazia: murders, destruction of houses and ruining cultural monuments. It cost the lives for a lot of Abkhazians and Georgians, and the blood shed will preserve mutual hostility, hatred, and lust for the revenge.

Abkhaz authorities feel the increasing pressure of the world community UN Supreme Commissariat for the refugees accused the Abkhaz side of the delay in the process of returning the refugees and in the opposition to the process of the regulation. The Resolution adopted by the Summit of the Heads of 53 states of Europe conducted in Budapest at the end of last year supported the territorial integrity of Georgia within "the boundaries recognized by the world community", the facts of ethnic purge were recorded, and of the mass chase of the population away, of the perishing of a large number of peaceful citizens.

And in the meantime annihilation of Georgian houses, chase of people of Georgian nationality are in progress in the "area of security" which is under the control of Russian peacekeeping forces. Under the shelter of Russian "peacekeeping" forces Abkhaz authorities have taken the path of the construction of an Ethnocratic state.

However, the tragic events in Abkhazia got an unexpected continuation in Russia. Hundreds of thousand of refugees and IDP rushed basically to Russia and formed a serious social tension here.

This war as a boomerang moved to the territory of Russia, to Chechnya, and today Russian tanks are destroying Russian towns are villages, killing Russian citizens. It is the fourth month of a real war in Georgia, the harvest of the territorial integrity of Russian State.

Such is the result of the Abkhaz Drama.

Givi Gorgiladze

As it turned out, the sides taking part in the armed conflict in Abkhazia roughly violated the norms of the international human Law, ignored the rights and dignity of the both participants of the battle actions, and of peaceful inhabitants. To justify their actions the separatists skillfully used the facts and stated that the norms of the international law were violated by both sides. They made useless attempts to hide, hush up the main thing - that after the establishment of complete control over the occupied territory, they using terror, killing masses of people not only continued, but even aggravated the genocide of Georgian inhabitants. Peaceful Georgian citizens still staying at the territory, occupied by separatists are systematically annihilated, people are tortured, taken prisoners, the towns and villages are attacked, the property is robbed and annihilated. They specially and actively prevent the process of returning the refugees to the places of their permanent residence, which was more than once recorded not only in the papers of the investigation, but also by various international commissions. Their data and estimation were used as the basis for the legal estimation of the crimes of the separatists.

International Convension on genocide of 1948 comprehensively determines the legal aspects, associated with this kind of criminal activities. Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, formulated on the basis of this Convention determines genocide at the action aimed at complete or partial annihilation of persons, belonging to some nationality, ethnic race or religious group, which is expressed in killing members of this group, their oppression or formation of such life conditions, which are aimed at their complete or partial annihilation. The crimes of the Abkhaz extremists are a classical examples of such actions.

All that was done, and is being done by separatists in Abkhazia today is not at all the ethnic conflict, started on the basis of nationalism insulting the dignity or wish to revenge. The collected materials show that the separatists with the support ef the North Caucasian Confederates and other foreign supporters had planned an organized plot to form a fundamentalist state in the Caucasus. To realize their aggressive intentions taking into consideration the geopolitical position of the region, it was necessary to annihilate or chase away the major part of the population of Abkhazia - Georgians, to take hold of the territory and the adjacent part of the Black Sea. For this purpose thousands of murderers were sent to Georgia, who were poisoned with the separatism, nationalism, and extremism. Up to 6000 persons were killed and more than 20 thousand -deformed and injured, hundreds of thousands of peaceful residents turned out from their homes only because they were Georgians.

The scale of the tragedy in Abkhazia and the methods used' to kill people confirm the fact that the genocide of Georgians had been thoroughly planned for a long time by the separatists.

One cannot avoid the well known and unknown facts of the newest history of Georgia, must analyze the positions of the forces which existed in the region and in the country before the war, and their opposition. One should not keep silence about those who specially did not recognize the state interests as the highest and priority ones, who did not make all the inhabitants of Georgia to meet the trial,-gathering into a single fist, so that genocide should have been avoided and territorial integrity preserved. Struggle for power, clan ambitions turned out to be above the public ones.

Under such conditions supporters of the ex-president of Georgia activated their anti-state activities in Georgia, and especially in Abkhazia. Together with the Abkhaz separatists they tried to gain wide-scale destabilization in the country which helped both sides to achieve their goals. They committed diverse and terrorist acts together, blew up the railway, bridges, other transport communications robbed the trains and passengers, kidnapped people.

In February-August 1992 the railway, highway and air communication practically stopped over almost all the territory of Abkhazia. Georgia and Armenia faced the economic catastrophe.

Explosions at the railway bridges and railroads at Kelaturi-Dranda, Tamuish-Ochamchire, Dranda-Adzuizhba, Tsatskhva-lngiri, Ingir-Zugdidi sections became practically common, every-day events.

1923 vans of load and 11 billion roubles for Georgia and Armenia were stolen in Samegrelo region and Abkhazia at the railway stations: Gagra, Bzuipi, Gantiadi, Gudauta, Dranda, Zugdidi and others during the armed attacks at the trains; only during the first half of 1992, 1142 facts of attacks and explosions were recorded.

Groups of terrorists and diversionists organized terrorist acts to damage the activities of the state structures of the republic, to form anarchy and chaos, they ignored the rights and security of peaceful residents, authorities, and human rights.

The facts of kidnapping representatives of the state power became more frequent in summer, 1992. Remember kidnapping and hiding in Abkhazia Alexander Kavsadze, Roman Gventsadze, murder of Kanidid Gogua, and numerous other similar facts. All these facts had heavy consequences.

Taking into account everything, and all the facts and papers in possession of the Procurator's Office we must record that the escaped ex-president and his supporters actively supported and assisted in genocide and in the infringement of the territorial integrity of the country. On mutual agreement they organized anti-state actions.

On June 24, 1992 a meeting of Chairman of the State Council of Georgia with President of Russian Federation was planned in Dagomius. The same day on the order of Z.Gamsakhurdia Walter Shurghaia with an armed group organized the attack at the State Department of Radio and Television in Tbilisi. And the same day V.Ardzinba and illegal troups under his subordination, the so-called "Abkhaz Guards" attacked and captured the building of the Ministry of Interior Affairs of the automonous republic.

A lot of facts proving their co-ordinated actions could be given here.

A Commission on finding out and investigation of the facts of ethnic purge - genocide of Georgian population of Abkhazia was formed on the basis of the Resolution of the Head of Georgian State.

The papers on the results of the investigation were used as the basis for the statements of the commission issued in Georgian,French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arab languages together with the documents of UN Commission of Human Rights and UN Security Council (of March 1, 1994; of March 24, 1995; February 26 1994; March 14, 1995).

The above statement with the preamble of Eduard Shevardnadze was distributed at the Summit in Copenhagen (March 1995) of countrymembers of the Security Council, at OSCE Summit in Budapest (December 1994), at CIS Summits of the Heads of States and Heads of governments in Alma-Ata and in Minsk (February and March, 1995).

On the basis of the above statement and facts and their international analysis, and in the result of the diplomatic efforts "of the head of State, the policy of ethnic purge used by Abkhaz separatists was condemned in the Resolution of the Summit in Budapest, where countrymembers showed their worry about the one-sided decisions made by the Abkhaz authorities, and expressed their sympathy in view of the ethnic purge of the population, and especially of Georgian population, numerous facts of people being chased away from the places of their permanent residence and annihilation of a large number of innocent peaceful residents.

This document was supported by UN Security Council (resolution 1993/1995) and CIS Summit in Minsk (May 26, 1995).

Previously Russian government laid all the responsibility for the policy of the ethnic purge onto the Abkhaz separatists (October 13, 1993); and the UN document of July 6, 1994 stressed the fact that "the danger threatening the territorial integrity of Georgia, which appeared in Abkhazia is also characterized with ethnic purge".

The recent report of OSCE Mission in Georgia on the protection of human rights in Gali region stressed that "Abkhaz leaders proceed the policy of forced ethnic purge with the aim to prevent repatriation to Gali and other regions of Abkhazia".

Resolution N47121 of December 17, 1992 adopted by UNO General Assembly recognized ethnic purge as one of the forms of genocide, after which the term has been used in the international law.

Thus, UNO and regional international organizations recognize the fact that the Abkhaz separatists used and are using now ethnic purge of the Georgian population of Abkhazia. The Resolution of UN Security Council firmly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, condemns the activities of the separatists towards the refugees. The above documents form the firm international law, moral and political basis for bringing Abkhaz separatists to court.

The gathered documents clearly confirm the fact of genocide of the peaceful Georgian inhabitants on the part of the leaders of aggressive separatism and their supporters, the facts of mass annihilation, robberies, tortures, murders, destruction of the monuments of culture, schools, other vitally important objects, mass rape of women and underage children, deportation of citizens, keeping the rest in the position of slaves and condition of exploitation.

From the very beginning the government of the Republic of Georgia preferred to regulate the conflict in a political way. Especially as its great and powerful neighbour from the North - Russia was presented as the warrantor and supporter of the peace, and its armed troops; peacekeeping forces provided this process.

Unfortunately, every peaceful initiative of the Georgian side ended tragically for us. Like the very first document, signed on September 3, 1992 in Moscow. When Gagra was captured, the Russian-Georgian frontier moved from the Psou river to the Gumista. Georgians, Estonians and a lot of residents of Gagra became refugees and had to leave their homes.

The second document was signed on July 27, 1993 in Sochi. According to the concluded agreement, the Georgian troops on the whole territory of Abkhazia were disarmed, and the weapon was transported from Abkhazia, heavy artillery including. And when the residents of Abkhazia returned to peaceful life, this agreement was also infringed on September 16, and the town was captured after ten days of battles between unequal forces. The loss of the whole Abkhazia followed the fall of Sukhumi, and in the result, up to 280 thousand Georgians, 30 thousand Russians, 23 thousand Abkhazians, Armenians, Greeks, Jews and other nations became refugees. The frontier moved from the Gumista to the Inguri river.

The third document of January 13, 1994 practically records the results of the Abkhaz war. According to this Communique, the responsibility for the reception and security of the returning refugees was laid onto Abkhazia. It was practically their rehabilitation and granting the mandates of confidence to the Abkhaz side, the activities of which had brought so much trouble and misfortune to Georgia.

The fourth document was signed on April 4, 1994. According to this agreement, people who had fought in Abkhazia could not return there, honorable people who took arms when the motherland was in danger, who protected their homes, towns and villages, their country. But the document contained nothing about those, who had also used arms, but fighting against legal government, against the unity of Georgia, and the integrity of the country. That agreement forbade the inhabitants of Georgia to protect the territorial integrity of their country and to return to their land without any conditions.

The fifth document of this kind was drawn up on May 14, 1994, but unfortunately it has not provided any positive results yet.

A lot of meetings have been held in many cities of the world for the passed two years. UN Security Council adopted 15 Resolutions and 6 Memorandums on the Abkhaz problem. All these documents are quite acceptable for us; they recognize the territorial integrity of Georgia, it is completely supported, the necessity to return the refugees is mentioned. European Union had conducted several interesting meetings; our delegations visited Geneva Jive times;

several bilateral and trilateral agreements, memorandums, communique were adopted and signed. Four meetings were held in Moscow, three - in Sochi. The Head of State went to Gudauta. 136 UN observers are staying in the conflict region. Special Commissioner of UN Secretary General more than once visited the region to conduct consultations. In December 1994 OSCE Summit in Budapest adopted a Declaration, according to which the country-members recognized the ethnic purge in Abkhazia. The declaration and statements adopted at the CIS Summits in Alma-Ata and Minsk should be added to the above list. These documents also condemned separatism in any form. The states took the obligations not to support separatism and its regime at the territories of other country-members, not to establish political, economic or other kinds of unions, to prevent any use of their territories and communication means by separatists, not to provide any economic, financial, military or any other help for them.

Unfortunately it, gave no results either. Or, more correctly, the result is that we are still staying where we were thrown back to 3 years ago, and we have not moved a metre forward over the Inguri river.

Unfortunately those separatists still manage to find strong support in various political circles, government and military bodies of Russia. Some foreign bodies, authorities of the republics and regions also support the separatists. They get definite support from the neighbour and distant foreign countries: from Turkey, Syria, Jordan, which causes disagreement among the separatists themselves; some of them are oriented at Russia, while the others - at Islamic states. This caused a kind of opposition between the Gudauta and Ochamchire Abkhazians and resulted in split in the separatists' parliament and government.

The Executive Council of the World Association of Abkhazians recently held a press conference in Sukhumi at which the Advisor of the Executive Council Rufel Butba noted it was necessary to form a common mechanism together with the representatives of Turkey and Arab countries on the construction of a reliable highway with a solid cover through the Klukhor mountain pass, which would join the North Caucasian countries with the Black sea through the territory of Abkhazia. Such a tendency can appear in Krasnodar region too. The problems of Shapsugs, Ubuikhs, Cherkessians, and other nations have been put forward there and an active work on the establishment of the Abkhaz-Aduigei toponimics is in progress. It is not accidental that Aduigei applied to the government of Russia with a request to allow them exchange with the territories of 25000 sq. km with Krasnodar region, as though needed for pastures, and in reality to have direct common territory between Abkhazia and North Caucasian republics. These processes seem unimportant, but is is by these small steps separatism in the former Soviet Union is directly connected with the problems of Abkhazia and Chechnya. So we believe that Russia must be interested in settling and overcoming them, and in taking strict measures to protect their territorial integrity. Russian Premier said: "In the process of talks we support compromises, but there is a threshold which we cannot overcome - it's territorial integrity of the state, and we are ready to use any methods to preserve it".

Unfortunately when similar processes take place in Georgia, they are called differently. If we compare Georgia and Chechnya and the events observed in Abkhazia and Chechnya, which are under the law of these countries we may see, that they hardly differ from each other.

If in August 1992 Georgian authorites brought its troops to the territory of Abkhazia to protect its railways, the government of Russia made a similar decision and brought some federal troops to Chechnya in December 1994. In both cases the troops of both countries had to restore the territorial integrity of Russia and Georgia.

A lot of politicians accused us of the imperial approach towards Abkhazia; a lot called us aggressors. However, the events in Russia are considered as protection and defense and preservation of the state system of Russia, restoration of its Constitution, struggle for the integrity of the country.

Dudayev is a state criminal, his armed troops - bandit and illegal units, their arrest is sanctioned, return of the refugees at the mass scale and without any conditions; first elections, then determination of the status of the region; restoration of the law of Russia all over the territory of Chechnya, preservation of the territorial integrity of the country. And here, in Georgia-Ardzinba-supporter of the conflict, his gangs - Abkhaz Militia and Ministry of Defense. Their arrest is impossible. Separatists freely go to Geneva, New York, Moscow, open various representations and missions.

To get the economical help Abkhaz separatists establish contacts with various countries, and first of all with the banks and commercial structures of Russia.

Using expensive presents, banquets, and often bribery of the officials, Abkhaz representatives have already achieved a lot and got a lot of credits.

Thus, on January 16 "Agro-Bank" (Moscow) transferred 16 billion roubles to various financial structures of Abkhazia.

In March "Agroprombank" allotted a credit of 3 billion roubles and bank "Revival" (president Orlov) - 2 billion roubles credit to restore Sukhumi port.

On March 26 S.Bagapsh visited Alma-Ata and concluded an agreement with Kazakhstan on allotting 200 000 tones wheat for Abkhazia. The amount necessary to purchase it was provided by "Agroprombank" of Russia.

An Abkhazian residing in Alma-Ata, Batal Ivanovich Pilia used his connection in the Kazakh Council of Ministers and in the office of the President to get 100 000 tones wheat for Abkhazia on the basis of barter exchange for citrus plants of the yield of 1994-1995. He also negotiates with Kazakhkhlebproduct concern on allotting wheat for Abkhazklebproduct under privilege conditions.

Representatives of Abkhaz separatists are negotiating with a lot of commercial structures of Russia to get credits. Among them are:

Foreign Economic Bank;

Currency Exchange of the National Bank of Russia;

Joint-stock company "International Timber Exchange";

Republican Exchange "Chimneft";

Inter-republican Exchange of products and land;

Moscow Oil Exchange;

Moscow Central Fund Exchange;

Moscow Commodity Exchange;

Association of business cooperation "Interkultimpex" and others.

Abkhazians get substantial financial support from distant foreign countries too.

Thus, Committee of aid to Abkhazia is functioning in Istanbul (Turkey). It gathers financial means. A definite part of the amount is used to purchase immovable property for Abkhazians.

Representatives of the companies having offices in Germany and Slovakia and in particular in Bratislava, Anatoli Jojua and lury Lataria (the latter is the representative of Aeroflot in Slovakia) transferred large amounts to the Funds of Revival of Abkhazia. French businessman Jean-Clodt Kachikian allotted a $1 million credit to Abkhazia (On June 25, 1992 Kachikian concluded a contract with Abkhaz government on the Production of Abkhaz passports).

Russian State credit banks demand firm guarantees when allotting credits. In this view Abkhaz party promises to pass its hotels, sanatoriums and rest homes for use in Gagra, Gudauta, and Pistunda.

Thus:

In 1994 International Bank of Moscow (Deputy Manager - Stavro Stilidi from Sukhumi) allotted a 10 min rouble credit to Abkhazia for the restoration and further use of Abkhaz health resorts.

Association Intercultimpex (President Viktor Mikulin) promises to allot a credit to Abkhazia, if the separatist government settles some problems and allots land plots at the sea shore for the association to construct hotels and rest homes at favorable conditions, and passes to the association several non-profitable sanatoriums and rest homes.

Office of Turk "Nans" company is situated in Gagra; it deals with purchasing various objects at the territory of Gagra and Pistunda.

Representatives of Turkey visited Sukhumi last December; they conducted an inventory at the territory of Gulripshi and took the soil samples to analyze it for fertility. Abkhaz separatists intend to settle in Gulripshi Turkish inhabitants of Abkhaz origin.

As an example find below one document confirmed the correspondence between Moscow Inter-regional Commercial Bank with V.Ardzinba:

To: Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia Ardzinba V.G. Dear Vladislav Ardzinba,

During the negotiations conducted with us in September-October 1993, you mentioned an extremely hard condition in Republic Abkhazia after the termination of war actions: lack of foodstuff, fuel and other vitally important resources.

Taking into consideration these circumstances and the fact that up to 80-10 Russian-speaking inhabitants reside in Republic Abkhazia, the managerial board of MICB decided to provide the financial help for the republic in the form of credits to be allotted to Abkhaz commercial structures, functioning in Moscow which are also our customers.

Making the decision on allotting the credits to you we took into consideration your letter-warrantee, in which expressing your request took the responsibility for their return.

After it your personal representative, General Procurator of Abkhaz Republic Jergenia A.M. a citizen Khelim (Enri) to the Managerial Board of MICB to whom, according to Jergenia the authorities of Abkhaz Republic show complete confidence for receiving and dealing with the credits.

From November 1993 to March 1994 our bank allotte'd credits to Abkhaz Republic amounting $7 700 thousand and 2 billion roubles.

Wishing to support your republic in difficult time we were ready to provide both financial and practical support, assisting you to restore the banking system in Republic Abkhazia.

With this aim our top managers visited your republic and Sukhumi on your invitations, where we more than once met with you and other authorities of the republic, and we promised to find the possibility to allot additional privilege credits for you.

To our great regret when we discussed this problem at the Supreme Council of Abkhazia we were not informed about the unfavorable situation formed with paying the credits back.

Today only $2 million and 500 million roubles have been returned. Thus, your debt amounts to $5 700 thousand and 2.5 billion roubles, not including the interest for using the credits in currency, which has not been covered until now even once.

As you understand until the accounts have been settled completely, MICB has no ground to allot additional credits for you or to provide any other assistance, as the bank incurs losses due to the fact that the credits and the interest have not been covered in due time.

I must note with regret that our bank could not establish confidential relations with your representative Azhiba. The behaviour of Azhiba has been hardly explainable lately. He not only would not come to the bank on his own initiative, but ignores our requests to come, so the managers of MICB have no information on the real possibility of the credits to be paid back and the interest covered, or about the possible term of conducting the final settlement of the accounts.

Moreover, Kh. Azhiba tired to present us false documents to make pretence as if he takes measures to cover the credits. Such behaviour of Azhiba is of clearly criminal character and rouses serious upset and warning, which made us to apply to you directly.

I ask you personal attention and involvement in the matter and taking urgent measures to solve the appeared conflict in the right way to avoid the possible unwanted consequences.

We are still very attentive and understand the extremely hard situation in Abkhazia and we sincerely wish to provide the necessary assistance for you, but it is necessary to eliminate the above preclusions to continue such relations.

Yours faithfully A.N.Shalashov

The agreement on the economic blockade of the separatist regime of Abkhazia, signed by the heads of CIS countries is practically not fulfilled, and the following operative information confirms the fact.

Abkhaz representation is still acting in Moscow (address: 4, Wilheml Pikk street, bid. 2, tel.: 187-49-87, 187-97-18); according to our information they intend to move to another building: 4, Vozdvizhenski avenue, tel.: 202-81-23;

On February 24, 120 tones of wheat flour were shipped by highway to Abkhazia; it was allotted by Stavropol region;

100 tones fuel were transported to Abkhazia between 14-24 of February, this year. 800 tones are expected to be shipped during the next two months;

In the middle of February Head of Sochi Administration issued a series of resolutions allowing to transport residents of Abkhazia to the area of Big Sochi by buses, who are liberated of the acting resort fee at the territory of Sochi. The resolution was issued on the basis of the request of Russian-speaking residents of Abkhazia.

On February 28 a Turkish freight boat entered the sea port of Sukhumi, it was filled with food products;

On February 5-6 conference "The ways to prevent and settle the conflicts at the territory of former USSR" was held in Moscow.it should be noted that the position of some participants of the conference was not in the conformity with the ideas and aims of the conference. About 60 politoligists, sociologists and philosophers, basically from various regions of Russia, North Caucasus were present. Abkhazia was represented by Deputy Director of Abkhaz-press Manana Gurgulia and Chairman of Ecology Committee Roman Dbar.

The opinions and moods of the participants were basically expressed unofficially: Adam Khakuz, Committee of International relations and international connections of Aduigei: "If battle actions start again in Abkhazia, all the North Caucasus will support Abkhazia; up to two hundred thousand soldiers will be mobilized, and they will distroy the whole Georgia. Administration of Aduigei supports constant contacts with V.Ardzinba. Soldiers of the Confederation do not take an active part in the Chechen conflict, as they are not interested in the aggravation of relations with Russia".

Shapi Kaziev, "Echo of the Caucasus" society, Moscow: "The decisions made by CIS Summit of the Head of States to preserve the territorial integrity of Georgia and to use force to ^solve the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts which form one more factor of destability. Neither Abkhazianor South Ossetia will agree to solve the problem in this way. CIS authorities must not forget that aggravation of the situation will result in the adequate reaction at the North Caucasus, and unpredictable results may follow in all the Caucasians regions. We are sure the world will recognize the immoral policy of big nations in enslaving the smaller ones".

Alexander Iskanderian, Centre of the investigation of the Caucasus, Acad. Sci. RF: "The essence of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict is the strive of a smaller nation for independence, which caused the aggression on the part of the empire"

In contrast to the above, representatives of Abkhazia Roman Dbar and Manana Gurgulia estimated the situation more realistically. They believe both sides were to blame in the conflict; however, taking into consideration the present situation and the pressure of Russia, Abkhazia may agree at best to form a confederation.

Besides, according to the received operative information it Russian peacekeeping forces are withdrawn from the territory, Abkhaz separatists administration intends to keep their equipment and weapon and to locate their army units on the right bank of the Inguri river. On February 25 Abkhaz boeviks robbed the car "Lendrover" of the UN representatives in Gali.

School textbooks are published in Megrelian language in England now with the assistance of Professor of London University George Hews to be used in schools in Gali region.

I cannot keep from expressing my position towards the peacekeeping forcessituated today along the Inguri river, who are actually fixing the atrificial borderline between Georgia and Abkhazia. Commanders of these forces are of pro-Abkhaz position and today I can state taking the complete responsibility for it that the fascist separatist regime of Ardzinba is preserved at the support of the bayonets of the peacekeeping forces. General Yakushev at our bank of the Inguri promises the Georgian side the same things he promises the Abkhaz side at the opposite bank. Since the time when the peacekeeping forces were brought and dislocated in Gali region there have been no battle actions there, however, the number of victims has reached 1 200. In the majority of cases they are women, children, old people. Their only fault is that they are Georgians, and because of it the separatists are dealing with them with special hatred and cruelty. And all these deeds are committed before the eyes of peacekeepers. We have information on the numerous murders, robberies, violence in the region controlled by the peacekeeping forces. There may be given a tot of facts of crimes, committed by the soldiers and officers of peacekeeping forces. Let me mention only some of them.

On July 4, 1994 servicemen of Russian peacekeeping forces killed resident of Torsa village, Khobi region, Vakhtang Chkhapelia without any fault on his part.

On July 25, 194 in Anaklia village, Zugdidi region two tanks of peacekeeping forces were shelling the vicinity of Kulevi village. Drunk servicemen took the boat and fishing tackle from the witnesses - the fishermen. They also cursed Georgian people and Georgian authorities.

At 4am, April 14, 1994, drunk soldiers of Russian peacekeeping forces headed by Colonel Volkov, attacked the police station in Zugdidi. They disarmed the policemen and took away four machine-guns and four pistols.

On August 19, 1995 drunk peacekeepers shelled at the Tsalenjikha police station. They broke the window glasses and damaged the wall, damaged the "Zhiguli" car of the police station and physically insulted several policemen.

In early January 1996 servicemen of Russian peacekeeping forces cruelly beat resident of one of the villages Tengiz Gigani' and then burnt his house.

A lot of facts of extorting money and violation of their duty rights have been recorded.Besides representatives of the peacekeeping forces by their own will place posts outside the area of their authorities and conduct the functions of the road police. Pretending they are looking for arms, they stop cars, search the passengers, and insult them. A lot of them purchase drugs in Mestia region for further selling and using. The facts when rare timber was transported to Abkhazia have become nore frequent recently. Thus, on January 3-4, 1996, 50m³ chestnut boards were transported from Hashmi and Chuberi villages, Mestia region, and on January 15 - three Kamaz trucks full of construction timber.

The contacts of some representatives of Russian peacekeeping forces with criminal elements also attract attention. The aim of such contact with the heads of the criminal groups is to transport outside the republic raw materials, metal, agricultural products, and especially citrus fruit and nuts.