News

The Georgian parliament has adopted a resolution today to arrange a nation-wide discussion about the status of Adjaria. In conformity with the document, amendments to the Constitution of Georgia concerning the division of power between the center and Adjaria will be proposed this week.

A special operations detachment of the Russian Defense Ministry was ambushed by Chechen guerrillas in the Vedeno district during an operation to arrest Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev.

The European Commission for Democracy through Law of the Council of Europe, better known as the Venice Commission, is a consultative body on the issues of constitutional law.

"We were evicted from Abkhazia with the assistance of Russia, and we are not allowed in there now. We live in poverty in Georgia, live on $5-6 a month, and don't have jobs," said the leader of the People's Party of Georgian Refugees, Boris Kukubava.

"I think that those interested in violent acts in Ingushetia are forces to which the extension of the armed conflict is advantageous," the deputy head of Ingushetia's Sunzha district administration said.

Servicemen driving on an UAZ truck were ambushed in the Urus-Martan district. Rebels blasted the vehicle and opened fire on the servicemen.

Mus Hajji Baskhaev, a local resident, was set free together with the boys.

In one of the rooms of the migration service, a police officer offered the refugees to sign a document that they had allegedly found two self-made explosive devices on the territory of their camp and delivered them to the police. In case of their refusal, the police officer promised serious problems with registration to the refugees.

The document reads in particular that the parties decline to use force and create a federative state in which Abkhazia will have special political and legal status.

The opposition is seeking for reasons to evade the dialogue and must bear all responsibility for consequences of the frustration of negotiations, the leader of the faction Republican Party of Armenia said.

The Georgian-Abkhazian meeting to continue working out the guarantees of security and non-renewal of war is to take place in Sukhum.

Actions to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War and the day of memory of its victims are to take place in Adygeya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, and Krasnodar Territory on May 21.

Participants discussed the situation in Transcaucasia and Moscow's possible lose of allies; the change of power in Adjaria as a strategic loss; the development of the situation around Abkhazia and South Osetia threatening to destabilize the entire region.

Defense minister of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia Vyacheslav Arshba and head of the Gali district administration Yury Kvekveskiri visited some villages in Abkhazia's Gali district on May 16.

An explosive device was fastened to the bottom of an office car and went off when the woman was getting into it. Investigators believe Ms Gubina's professional activity may have become a reason for the assassination attempt.

"The world community must state with all due responsibility that the Chechen people will be eliminated within the next ten years if there will be no external interference," said Mart Helme.

"The scenario according to which the Georgian authorities managed to turn developments in Adjaria is not possible in South Osetia. The Georgian-Osetian conflict can be settled only on the basis of negotiations," the head of the South Osetian Security Council noted.

The meeting in Strasbourg is being held within the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments.

It became known today, after the defendant entered his final plea. He said he considered himself to be not guilty and the trial against him was ordered by nature.

When moving to the new place, the refugees were promised that all arrears of foodstuff by the Russian Emergencies Ministry would be given to them and they would be rendered assistance in settling problems they had in getting compensations and some other ones.