Rebel warlord Emzar Kvitsiani is in the breakaway Abkhaz capital Sokhumi with his family and two of his co-fighters, Giorgi Arveladze, chief of the Georgian President’s Administration, said on July 28.

“Last night he was in Sokhumi… After our law enforcers let Kvitsiani leave the village Chkhalta [overnight on July 27] in order to avoid casualties among the peaceful population, Kvitsiani went to Abkhaz-controlled territory, where he met with [breakaway Abkhaz Deputy Defense Minister Gari] Kupalba and the latter took him [Kvitsiani] to Sokhumi,” Arveladze said at a news conference.

He also said that an interview with Kvitsiani which was broadcasted by Russian Public Television on July 27 was recorded in the Abkhaz-controlled territory.

The Abkhaz side has yet to comment on reports about presence of Emzar Kvitsiani, who is wanted by the Georgian law enforcers, in Sokhumi.

Arveladze said that arms and ammunition “worth USD 30 million” was found in the upper Kodori Gorge by Georgian law enforcement.

“It is most likely that they [Kvitsiani’s militia group Monadire] were engaged in the arms trade,” Arveladze added.