2001 Kodori crisis
Encyclopedia
The 2001 Kodori crisis was a confrontation in the Kodori Gorge, Abkhazia
, in October 2001 between ethnic Chechen
fighters and Abkhazian forces. The crisis was largely neglected by world media, focused on then-actual US attack on Afghanistan. The fighting killed 40 people.
and born in 1973, had been condemned to a prison sentence of 15 years.
On 29 July 2006, Mart Laar, former prime minister of Estonia and then adviser to the Georgian president, was quoted as saying that the Kodori conflict was engineered by Russia. Laar also warned that future provocations of Georgia by Russia are to be expected, but that Georgia has prepared itself to make it through any challenges posed by Russia.
On 30 April 2008, Georgia was accused of massing 1500 troops in the Kodori region in preparation to invade Abkhazia, who broke away from Georgia after a civil war in 1993. Georgia maintained the troops were present in accordance to a 1994 accord that allowed for peacekeeping forces in the region and were essential to maintaining order after the 2001 Kodori crisis. Russia responded by deploying troops to the region, further escalating tensions between Russia and Georgia.
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
, in October 2001 between ethnic Chechen
Chechen people
Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...
fighters and Abkhazian forces. The crisis was largely neglected by world media, focused on then-actual US attack on Afghanistan. The fighting killed 40 people.
Timeline
On October 4, 2001, a group of Chechen and Georgian fighters led by the commander Ruslan Gelayev entered the gorge from the Georgian side and attacked the village Giorgievskoe. Then, on October 8, 2001, a helicopter carrying United Nations observers was shot down over Kodori, killing nine.Aftermath
On 5 August 2004, Valery Chkhetiani, one of the Georgian fighters captured by Abkhazian forces, suffered a stroke during a walk and was brought to a hospital, where he died two days later, on 7 August. Chkhetiani, a resident of KutaisiKutaisi
Kutaisi is Georgia's second largest city and the capital of the western region of Imereti. It is 221 km to the west of Tbilisi.-Geography:...
and born in 1973, had been condemned to a prison sentence of 15 years.
On 29 July 2006, Mart Laar, former prime minister of Estonia and then adviser to the Georgian president, was quoted as saying that the Kodori conflict was engineered by Russia. Laar also warned that future provocations of Georgia by Russia are to be expected, but that Georgia has prepared itself to make it through any challenges posed by Russia.
On 30 April 2008, Georgia was accused of massing 1500 troops in the Kodori region in preparation to invade Abkhazia, who broke away from Georgia after a civil war in 1993. Georgia maintained the troops were present in accordance to a 1994 accord that allowed for peacekeeping forces in the region and were essential to maintaining order after the 2001 Kodori crisis. Russia responded by deploying troops to the region, further escalating tensions between Russia and Georgia.