Emzar Kvitsiani
Encyclopedia
Emzar Kvitsiani was a Georgia
n presidential representative in the Kodori Gorge.
in the gorge, he declared disobedience to president Mikheil Saakashvili
who succeeded Shevardnadze after the Rose Revolution
. When government forces came to Kodori gorge to disarm Kvitsiani and roughly 200 supporters, they were met with armed resistance. Kvitsiani opened fire on the Special Forces, who were jointly commanded by the Interior Minister
Vano Merabishvili
and Defence Minister
Irakli Okruashvili
. In the aftermath of the operation, Kvitsiani fled the scene, leaving a considerable amount of weapons behind, including Russian Igla and Strela
anti-aircraft guns. It is suspected that Kvitsiani received these weapons and other support from Abkhaz
separatists, who are themselves well supported by Russia
. Kvitsiani is wanted by Georgian Police, who have offered a reward of 100,000 Lari
(approximately 60,000 USD) to whoever provides information concerning his whereabouts or helps police capture the militiaman.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
n presidential representative in the Kodori Gorge.
2006 Kodori crisis
A former envoy of Eduard ShevardnadzeEduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadze is a former Soviet, and later, Georgian statesman from the height to the end of the Cold War. He served as President of Georgia from 1995 to 2003, and as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party , from 1972 to 1985. Shevardnadze was responsible for many top decisions on...
in the gorge, he declared disobedience to president Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
who succeeded Shevardnadze after the Rose Revolution
Rose Revolution
The "Revolution of Roses" was a change of power in Georgia in November 2003, which took place after having widespread protests over the disputed parliamentary elections...
. When government forces came to Kodori gorge to disarm Kvitsiani and roughly 200 supporters, they were met with armed resistance. Kvitsiani opened fire on the Special Forces, who were jointly commanded by the Interior Minister
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
Vano Merabishvili
Vano Merabishvili
Ivane Merabishvili is a Georgian politician who has served as the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs since December 18, 2004...
and Defence Minister
Defence minister
A defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
Irakli Okruashvili
Irakli Okruashvili
Irakli Okruashvili is a Georgian politician who had served on various important posts in the Government of Georgia under President Mikheil Saakashvili, including being the Minister of Defense from December 2004 until being dismissed in November 2006.In September 2007, Okruashvili staged a...
. In the aftermath of the operation, Kvitsiani fled the scene, leaving a considerable amount of weapons behind, including Russian Igla and Strela
Strela
Strela may refer to:A series of Russian-manufactured anti-aircraft missiles* The 9K31 Strela-1, aka SA-9 Gaskin* The 9K32 Strela-2, aka SA-7 Grail* The 9K34 Strela-3, aka SA-14 Gremlin* The 9K35 Strela-10, aka SA-13 GopherOther...
anti-aircraft guns. It is suspected that Kvitsiani received these weapons and other support from Abkhaz
Abkhaz
Abkhaz and Abkhazian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Abkhazia, a de facto independent region with partial recognition as a sovereign state, otherwise recognized as part of Georgia...
separatists, who are themselves well supported by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Kvitsiani is wanted by Georgian Police, who have offered a reward of 100,000 Lari
Lari
The suborder Lari is the part of the order Charadriiformes which includes the gulls, terns, skuas and skimmers, with the waders and snipes making up the rest of the order. Following recent research, the auks are now placed into the Lari too; the Glareolidae might constitute a distinct suborder...
(approximately 60,000 USD) to whoever provides information concerning his whereabouts or helps police capture the militiaman.
External links
- Moscow unleashes a mountain chieftain against Georgia (Eurasia Daily Monitor)
- Georgia regains control over battle in Kodori (Eurasia Daily Monitor)
- Moscow calls on Georgia to refrain from armed actions (Itar Tass)
- Situation in Kodori Gorge (Rustavi 2)
- Reports: Besieged rebel warlord under attack (civil.ge)
- Georgian army clashes with Kodori militia (Interfax)
- Military expert on Kodori operation (civil.ge)