He said Georgia was facing serious problems, and the main problem was the existence of several governments and political regimes in the country, which did not acknowledge the principle of territorial integrity and were “taking Georgia into pieces”. “We are facing a difficult situation not with Adzharia but with Aslan Abashidze personally,” the Georgian leader stressed.

According to him, a group of criminals is operating in Adzharia involved in drug trafficking, murders, political terrorism and other heavy crimes. “Our goal is to rid Adzharia of these criminals,” Mr. Saakashvili added.

The Georgian parliament is expected to pass a statement on the situation in Adzharia on Thursday. The deputies will also elect the Speaker of Parliament. Nino Burdzhanadze is expected to be re-elected to this position.

So, a standoff between Georgia and Adzharia continues. On Wednesday, the 3rd department of Georgia’s Interior Ministry troops, stationed in Batumi, refused to obey the orders of the central authorities. The unit, which numbers 300 interior troops, will pass to the control of Aslan Abashidze, the leader of the Adzharian Autonomous Republic. Earlier, the same decision was made by Roman Dumbadze, Commander of the 25th motorized infantry brigade.

As a result, two military units of Georgia’s Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry passed to the control of Mr. Abashidze. Meanwhile, most officers of the 25th brigade left Batumi and arrived in Tbilisi.