Kodori Attack: Fresh Cause for Conflict

A reported air attack on a remote, Georgian-controlled section of the breakaway territory of Abkhazia has escalated tensions in the region less than a month before the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to review its resolution on the territory's Russian-led peacekeeping structure.

Georgian officials claim that three Mi-24 helicopters on the night of March 11 flew from Russia's Republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia into the Georgia-controlled upper Kodori Gorge in neighboring Abkhazia, and attacked the village of Chkhalta, the area's main population center. Chkhalta houses the Georgian-backed Abkhaz government-in-exile, whose headquarters were damaged in the attack. No injuries were reported. Russia and the separatist government in Abkhazia have both denied involvement in the attacks.

A four-party team -- including Georgian, Abkhaz, Russian and United Nations representatives -- is still investigating the incident. On March 14, Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zghuladze noted that the Western diplomatic corps was impressed by Georgia's "restrained position" on the incident. However, high-ranking officials in Georgia are already accusing Moscow of having masterminded the attack. In an interview with EurasiaNet, Lt. Col. Giga Tatishvili, deputy chief of the Georgian Armed Forces General Staff, said that the quality of the equipment -- and the use of helicopter pilots in the attack -- automatically ruled out any possibility that the incident was caused by either the Abkhaz separatist government, or was related to local clan disputes.

"It is impossible for separatists to have attack helicopters, Mi24, and, second of all, to have that good [a] pilot to fly at night at that low range," Tatishvili said. "It is impossible even for us." he added.

The helicopters managed to fly under Georgia's radar, Tatishvili added. "The pilots were very good; to fly at those ranges in those mountains at night without any devices