Police and Security Heads Speak on Clash in Georgia’s Muslim-Populated Pankisi
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, May 6
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia and head of Georgia’s State Security Service Vakhtang Gomelauri have made statements on allegations regarding sending of special unit servicemen in Georgia’s Kist and Chechen-populated Pankisi Gorge on April 21, when police and local, mostly Muslim population, clashed because of the construction of the five MgWt Hydro Power Plant.
Gakharia, who reported to MPs last Thursday, criticized the opposition for “misleading public,” when they accused the government of conducting a special operation with the use of special unit servicemen in Pankisi, which stirred the confrontation on the territory inhabited by ethnic minorities.
“We have not sent the special unit servicemen at the scene. There were ordinary police officers to calm the situation down. If you do not have information, you can request, and we will provide it,” Gakharia said.
Gomelauri reported to parliament on the next day that initially there were 30-35 policemen at the scene. However, when the situation got complicated, employees of special tasks department were sent there.
“It was not a planned special operation to forecast what might happen. It was very bad what happened there and the situation should be analyzed,” Gomelauri said.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has admitted that “what happened in Pankisi must not have happened,” as that did not suit Georgia’s past, present and the country “we build on.”
He expressed his respect for the Gorge’s population and vowed that the challenges would be overcome based on the plan the government has.
The European Georgia and the United National Movement parliamentary opposition continue to point at the government’s “unreasonable reaction,” leading to the clash and the confrontation which left 55 people injured- 38 police officers and 17 civilians.
The Pankisi Gorge, a valley region in the Akhmeta Municipality of the Kakheti region in eastern Georgia, is frequently in focus, as up to 100 of the gorge youngsters have been recruited for the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), acting in Iraq and Syria.
Based on unofficial information up to 30 have been killed as IS terrorists.
Gomelauri told lawmakers that 20 are still fighting.
About 75 percent of the population in Pankisi are Muslim Kists and Chechens.
Peri ltd was supposed to start construction of the 5.4 MgWt Khadori-3 HPP that morning when the clash took place, but the local population firmly opposed because of the possible negative impact on nature.
The Georgian Dream government stated that locals were “misled by certain groups,” as the HPP is too small to make any serious impact on nature.
However, the government said that the HPP will not be built until all the questions are removed and more than 90 percent of locals are ready for the construction.
