Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said on July 27 that rebel warlord Emzar Kvitsiani is apparently in Abkhaz-controlled territory.

“Kvitsiani should be in Abkhazia. According to some sources he left Kodori two days ago, but this information has not yet been confirmed,” Merabishvili told Rustavi 2 television late on July 27.

On July 26 Georgian officials claimed that Kvitsiani was besieged by government forces in upper Kodori Gorge, which is the only part of breakaway Abkhazia not controlled by secessionist authorities.

Russian Public Television (ORT) broadcasted footage of an interview with rebel warlord Emzar Kvitsiani, who is currently being hunted down by the Georgian authorities. ORT said the interview was recorded on July 27.

“Let Saakashvili come here and talk with me - but he will never dare,” Kvitsiani said.

Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said that the interview was most likely recorded in Sokhumi, the capital of breakaway Abkhazia.