21:50, 23 March 2004

Gogi Topadze is indignant at pre-election situation in Adjaria

One of the leaders of the right opposition, Gogi Topadze, is indignant at the pre-election conditions created in Adjaria. He holds that peace in Adjaria only seems to exist. "It is true that the extremely tense atmosphere in Adjaria has been relieved. But gunmen in masks are standing at Choloki again, there are tanks hidden in the land again," Mr Topadze said at today's press conference. He does not rule out the possibility that serious confrontation between the opposition and local authorities can happen on the day of the parliamentary elections in Adjaria. He calls upon the central authorities to protect the situation in Adjaria from aggravation as much as possible. According to him, the Adjarian authorities are terrorizing opposition supporters and do not let them electioneer.

Author: Natiya Djindcharadze, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot