Kodori Government of Abkhazia
// Double authorities
Abkhazia prepares for war against dual government

Sukhumi declared yesterday it will not allow Abkhaz government-in-exile to settle in Kodori gorge. Sukhumi is ready to use force to take control over Kodori. Abkhaz authorities fear the appearance of one more government will prevent them from gaining independence following Kosovo scenario. Meanwhile, Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government-in-exile has already begun moving to Kodori gorge, according to the orders of Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili.
Government troops of Georgia  began the second phase of the special operation in Kodori gorge. They combed local villages looking for rebels, searching local residents’ houses on the way and seizing hidden weapons. The troops reported having collected weapons to the total cost of $30 million. Emzar Kvitsiani was not captured. Tbilisi said he escaped to Tbilisi-independent Abkhazia. Abkhaz Deputy Minister of Defense Garri Kupalba said Kvitsiani is definitely not in Abkhazia.
 
Georgian president Saakashvili announced that Abkhaz government- and parliament-in-exile will move from Tbilisi to Kodori gorge. Georgian State Minister for Economic Reforms Kakha Bendukidze said the legal government of Abkhazia should be located on Abkhaz territory.
 
Georgian authorities intend to carry out the president’s order as soon as possible. Head of Abkhaz government-in-exile Malkhaz Akishbaia said the main goal of his government is to develop and apply social projects which will allow to improve the lives of local residents.
Meanwhile, latest Georgian initiatives unnerved the officials of unrecognized Abkhazia.
 
Geographically, Kodori gorge belongs to Abkhazian territory. Thus, if an alternative government appears in Kodori, this will actually lead to dual government in the region.
 
Moreover, since Abkhazia is unrecognized by the international law, the Kodori government will be considered the only legal one. Abkhaz Minister of Foreign Affairs  Sergey Shamba shared his apprehensions that Abkhazia will not be able to gain independence like Kosovo did. He also said that Georgian government is provoking Abkhazia to engage in war against Georgia.
 
Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said his republic will stop talks with Georgia if the legal Abkhaz government becomes located in Kodori. He said Abkhazia reserves the right not to allow the puppet government to settle in Kodori gorge. Abkhaz armed forces were alerted yesterday.
Moscow denounced, as usual, the actions of Georgian authorities in Kodori gorge. Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said Georgian attempts to solve Abkhazian and South Ossetian issues by resorting to force have no chances for success. However, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Andrey Kuznetsov said: “Georgia may install another Abkhaz government in Kodori, and this will not violate any agreements. Yet, if Abkhazia begins war, it will be wrong. There is nothing to comment on now. We shall make comments when they begin war.”

by  Vladimir Solovyev, Olga Allenova; Galina Gotua, Vladimir Novikov, Tbilisi
http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?idr=527&id=693683