GEORGIA: SAAKASHVILI ATTACKS CHECHEN WOMEN

August 3, 2004 - (Kavkaz Center) Most likely, after Georgian president Saakashvili did not get too lucky in South Ossetia, he decided to show how tough he is by sending Georgian troops against Chechen women and children.

Representatives of human rights organizations were outraged with the actions of Georgian law enforcement during the punitive operation that they conducted in the Pankisi Gorge, Northern Georgia, where Chechen refugees are living.

Chechen human rights activist Aslanbek Abdurzakov said, ‘Men with masks on were breaking into the homes of the refugees with no explanations whatsoever.’

He said that at least 12 people had been detained. With the assistance of UN Refugee Committee and a number of Georgian human rights organizations, their relatives are now trying to find out what the reasons for their detention were and where they are currently being held.

Human rights activists reported that during the searches in the homes, ‘there were cases when refugees were insulted, as far as assault and battery of women.’

Meanwhile, chief of human rights organization «Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights», Nana Kakabadze, told reporters that the police detained about 20 people on Tuesday, and only four of them have now been released.

Ms. Kakabadze said that ‘several women were brutally beaten during the searches’ by the men in masks.

Kavkaz Center’s source reported that the punitive raid started at four o’clock in the morning almost in all villages of Pankisi. Georgian power structures were involved (some reports say that it was a joint operation with Russian secret services). About twenty people have been taken hostage. All of them are natives of Chechnya.

So far Kavkaz Center has managed to establish the identities of the following detainees: Hasan Akuyev (village of Duisi), Aslanbek Umarov (village of Khalatsan), Lechi Musikhanov, Zainuddi Saidov (village of Jokolo), Aliko Borchashvili, Yusup Borchashvili (brothers from Jokolo), Abumuslim Ahmedov (village of Khalatsan), Magomed Aziyev (village of Duisi), Salamu Yahiyev (village of Duisi), Aslanbek Musikhanov and Daud Morgashvili.

The raids were accompanied by brutal beatings of members of their families. Thus, ten women were beaten with nightsticks. Four women are now in serious condition. One of them is pregnant. There is a danger that she may have a miscarriage.

Moreover, the raiders with masks on were sadistically kicking women with their feet. All raiders were cowardly hiding their faces behind the masks.

There is a noticeable fact that the punitive raid against Chechen displaced settlers was conducted right after Saakashvili came back from Israel. Besides, these days Georgian president is going to take a trip to the US as well.

Kavkaz Center’s source also found out that the information about the punitive raid that the Georgian troops conducted against Chechens was forwarded to State Defense Council 'Majlis al-Shura' of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

From: http://www.hrvc.net/news2004/5-8-04.html