Parliamentarians from the opposition parties have condemned chief of paramilitary group Monadire Emzar Kvitsiani for announcing defiance towards the central authorities, but also called on the government to refrain from any forceful actions in Kodori gorge, breakaway Abkhazia, where the Monadire group is based.

Speaking at a news briefing on July 24 leader of the opposition New Rights party, MP David Gamkrelidze demanded the authorities to guarantee that no special operation will be held in Kodori gorge, to launch negotiations with Emzar Kvitsiani, to restore an official status of Monadire paramilitary group (which was disbanded in 2005) and to improve living conditions of local residents.

MP Kakha Kukava of the opposition Conservative party said that confronting authorities through illegal means in inadmissible.

Leader of the Industrialists party, MP Zurab Tkemaladze said that “the authorities are obliged to defuse tensions in the Kodori gorge.”
 
“I am against any military actions and armed disobedience,” he added.

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said on July 23 that a police operation is not ruled out if tensions remain in Kodori gorge.