03 May 2004, 22:43
Ajaria in self-isolation
All motor bridges on roads to Ajaria have been exploded. Armed people prevent those willing to cross the administrative border on foot, including Ajarian residents. The only way to get to the republic is by air from Tbilisi to Batumi.
Batumi is almost desolate, the Georgian media says. The population prefers to go to mountain villages in the republic for a while.
Not a single Georgian television channel is broadcast in the republic, save for Ajaria's television. Republican residents refuse to be interviewed; they give interviews by phone on terms of anonymity. They say there are a lot of armed people in camouflage in Batumi, and there is a shortage of food.
Ajaria's leader Aslan Abashidze has preferred not to spend several nights straight in the same place for security purposes in the last few days, according to unofficial information from Batumi. Local residents say this is confirmed by the frequent change of places guarded by the leader's personal security and sharpshooters.
Meanwhile, the local media broadcasts from the administrative border in Choloki that the situation there is outwardly quiet. Georgia's national flag has been hoisted near the flag of the political party Revival for the first time in the past few years in Choloki. Several armored vehicles and armed people remain at the border.
Assessing the possible economic results, Tbilisi does not hide that explosion of the bridges across the river Choloki to Kakuti and Jikhashkari may lead to interruption in supplying sugar, flour and other foodstuffs because these supplies to Georgia were made through the Sarpi checkpoint located in Ajaria. However, experts assure these difficulties are temporary, as cargos from Turkey will be delivered to Georgia in a few days through the Vale checkpoint in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Georgia.
Source: RIA Novosti
