(Tbilisi, August 26 2002, Civil Georgia) "Bombardment [of Georgian territory] was aimed at interrupting planned operation in Pankisi which has to clear the gorge from the terrorists that have been deliberately pushed to the Georgia", stated President Shevardnadze in his traditional radio interview on 26 of August.

"The aim of bombardment is to maintain permanent tension in Georgia and upset transportation and energy projects", President said.

President addressed Russian MFA and asked them "why did certain forces pushed out "peaceful" Chechen fighters to Georgia"?

According to President Shevardnadze the main goal of the anti-terrorist operation in Pankisi is to clear the region from "all kind of criminal elements".

On 25 of August additional forces of Internal Troops entered the villages of the gorge. According to the representative of Internal Troops, first phase of anti-criminal passed peacefully.