(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 3, 2002) - "In case the Chechen fighters hiding in Pankisi gorge hand in weapons Georgia will grant them a refugee status," Georgian State Security Minister Valeri Khaburdzania told the reporters today.

He said that this would be the way to get rid of presence of the armed groups in Pankisi gorge. Khaburdzania stated only those who had not committed serious crimes would be eligible for the refugee status.

 The recent clashes between Russian and Chechen fighters near Georgian border caused Georgian-Russian tensions, as the Russian authorities claimed that Chechen fighters infiltrated into Russia from Georgia's Pankisi gorge.