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Foreign
Minister of Georgia in the evening on Monday issued the announcement in which,
referring to «operative data owing verification», it is spoken, that the
helicopter of mission of military observers of the United Nations was not
brought down above Kodori Gorge, and broke in result of «accident». In the
announcement, regret has been expressed concerning the incident that took place
in the territory, which are not controllable by the central authorities of
Georgia because of that «it is difficult to receive the exact information about
the incident». Foreign Minister of Georgia supports regular connection with
mission of the United Nations and tries to receive additional information on
this tragic incident.
Making
comments on this application, official representative of mission of the United
Nations in Georgia, Alexander George declared that, on his data, helicopter Mi-8
with military observers of the United Nations was brought down in the morning on
Monday above Kodori Gorge by a rocket attack. More exact data will be received
on Tuesday, told Alexander George. The Abkhaz Defence Minister Vladimir
Minkanba
declared that flying at small height by helicopter of mission of the United
Nations was brought down by two shots from a grenade-guns, which were fired by
Abkhazian military men. The helicopter of mission of military observers of the
United Nations, having taken off in the morning on Monday on patrolling of the
bottom part of Kodori Gorge, on the preliminary data, was brought down in
vicinities of village Amtkel of Gulripsh area. All nine persons, on board of
MI-8 - five military observers of the United Nations, three members of crew and
female translator were lost.
Minister
for Special Assignments of
Georgia, Malkhaz
Kakabadze excludes the possibility that the helicopter
of mission of military observers of the United Nations was brought down in
Abkhazia on Monday in the morning by guerrillas. As declared Malkhaz Kakabadze,
Abkhazian side itself declared, that it has beaten out Georgian guerrilla and
North Caucasian fighters from village Georgievskoe and now is controlling this
area. As he said, Abkhazian side also confirms that during implementation of
operation were used armored engineering and artillery, which there is not
possessed by Georgian guerrilla and Northern-Caucasians.
«Those
having for this purpose appropriate arms could bring down the Helicopter», -
told Malkhaz Kakabadze. Independent Georgian military expert, Irakli Aladashvili
in interview with Prime - News told that helicopter of mission of the United
Nations could be brought down by a portable antiaircraft - rocket complex such
as «Strela-2М»,
«Strela-3М»
or the «Igla», capable to hit the air targets at height up to 3,5 kilometers
and radius of action up to 5 kilometers. As he said, during war in Abkhazia in
years 1992-1993 from such complexes was forced down Georgian planes and
helicopters. The leadership of Republic Abkhazia more than once declared, that
it has the appropriate forces and means for destruction of any Georgian planes
in air space of Abkhazia, told Irakli Aladashvili.
Helicopter
of mission of military observers of the United Nations, taken off in the morning
on Monday, while on patrolling of the bottom part of Kodori Gorge, was brought
down in vicinities of village Amtkel of Gulripsh area. All nine persons on board
of MI-8, among who were five military observers of the United Nations, three
members of crew and female translator, were lost.
Chechen
side denied participation of Chechens in this operation. The press release of
President of CRI, through agency «Chechen-Press» informed, that for today,
Chechen side has no and had no divisions of the Chechen armed forces in this
region and all attempts to link it up to Chechens are lies. Further in the
announcement, it is spoken:
«Official
authorities of Georgia already have commented on the given fact, and we have no
slightest doubts in competence in the Georgian bodies. We, consider it not
allowable that in all, without exception of negative moments occurring in
Caucasus, Russia from ears drew universal and imaginary «Chechen trace» there.
Eventually, Russian special services should reflect on its prestige in eyes of
the world community when they link up all troubles and undetected crimes
exclusively on Chechens. The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria has no relation to the
given incident, and again calls leadership of Abkhazia not to go on an bridal of
the Russian authorities concerning to Chechen question».
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