Abkhazians Captured Four Georgians as Hostages

Nana Pazhava, Zugdidi

On September 24th, 2008 the Abkhazian police arrested four Georgian men: Badri Akhalaia, Khvicha Ubiria, Gogita Kvirkvia and Papuna Karaia in the village of Otobaia, Gali District. Two Georgian women were also arrested. However, they were released by the Abkhazian police after being held for a period of time. The Abkhazians wanted to exchange the four Georgians in Goderdzi Epenia who was arrested by Zugdidi Police Department representatives a week earler; hehad been arrested for dealing in drugs.

The Georgians were detained near the Abkhazian block post, not far from the bridge in the village of Otobaia. The incident occurred when 6 Georgians were moving towards the village of Orsantia, Zugdidi district by a cart. One of the detainers was Besik Chkonia, Otobaia village Governor appointed by the Abkhazian de-facto government. Assumedly, it was Chkonia who informed Abkhazian “boeviks” about the almost total rout of Georgians.

Izo Sanaia: “I and Sveta Kvirkvia, the wife of detained Gogita Kvirkvi were sitting in the carriage with the men. We were stopped by the Abkhazians near the Otobaia Bridge at 5 p.m. Fist they asked us where we were from, how we got there and wrote down the names of all of us. Then Chkonia came to us and said: “Our man named Epenia has been arrested by your police and we want to exchange you for him.” Chkonia wrote down Epenia’s name on a sheet of paper and gave it to me. I immediately realized that we, the women would be released.’

Sveta Kvirkvia: “We stayed in an Abkhazian block post for about an hour. We saw that additional forces, assumedly, Special Forces were called from Gali District. They were armed to the teeth. All four men were placed into a UAZ car and taken to the direction of Gari. They promised us not to beat or insult the detainees.

The Georgians captured by the Abkhazians went from Orsantia village to the village of Otobaia 4 days ago to harvest hazelnuts. They received 10-15 GEL per day for the work in nuts plantation. Earlier this same group of 6 was collecting nuts in the villages of Zugdidi district.

Izo Sanaia: “I and the second released woman are IDPs from Abkhazia. The 4 captured boys are from the village of Zeda Etseri. They are only 25-30 years old. We live in the same district, on the territory of a former tea enterprise. This village has many IDPs living there as well. As we had no other option we decided to support our families by going to villages and harvesting hazelnuts. We knew that it was rather risky to go to Otobaia but we had to take this risk. I have 5 children and I have to support them the best that I can….”

The demand of Abkhazians has not changed. They want that arrested Goderdzi Epenia was handed over to them. The official position of Georgian authorities is unknown up to present time as the case is rather serious: Epenia is charged for illegal purchase-preservation and caring a large amount of drugs. Georgian law enforcers arrested Epenia at Georgian-Abkhazian administrative border when he was taking drugs from Gali to Zugdidi.

The relatives of captured Georgians express their discontent with Georgian media outlets. Izo Sanaia calls Georgian journalists to stop spreading false information about the 4 detainees being beaten. She said that the Abkhazians were irritated by this information.

Izo Sanaia: “We know that the boys were not abused. We fear that this false information might create more problems and put them in more stressful situation. We ask the President of Georgia and all international organizations to take active steps in securing their release.”