Explosions Rock Georgian Separatist Region Abkhazia; Serbs Create New Assembly in Kosovo

by Dan Forrest
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

SUKHUMI, Georgia - Six people were wounded on Monday in two separate explosions in the capital of the Georgian separatist region Abkhazia.  The internationally unrecognized region's leader, Sergei Bapash, blamed the blasts on Georgia's government, as says that Abkhazia's border with Georgia will now be indefinitely closed.

Just one day earlier on Sunday, a blast wounded several citizens in the resort town of Gagri.  Bapash blames Georgia for that attack as well. 

"They [Georgia] could not frighten us with war, they could not frighten us with political pressure, now they want to frighten us with explosions," he announced. 

These two attacks are significant because they represent the growing tension between Georgia and Abkhazia over its territory.  Many of Abkhazia's residents maintain strong ties to Russia, creating a delicate political situation between Georgia, Abkhazia, and Russia.  In the not-to-distant past, Georgia has accused Russia of supporting Abkhazia's bid for independence.   

These attacks also represent growing concern over impunity developing in the region.  If war between Georgia and Abkhazia breaks out, and many believe that it could be sparked by even a single attack - many innocent citizens, both Georgian and Russian alike, will once again face oppression in the region, just as they did in the past before the separatist war in the 1990's. 

Additionally, if the border remains closed, this could lead to an oppressive humanitarian crisis.  "It will be a humanitarian catastrophe if the border is closed.  Thousands of Georgians in Abkhazia cross the border to get pensions, do their shopping and work," Sasha Utiashvili, an Interior Ministry Spokesman commented. 

Georgia's officials have yet to comment on the latest attacks.  They have in the past denied allegations that they are about to retake Abkhazia by force. 

For more information, please see:

CNN - Six wounded as blasts rock separatist Georgian region - 30 June 2008

Guardian - Abkhazia blames Georgia for bomb blasts - 30 June 2008

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MITROVICA, Kosovo - Serbians living in Kosovo now have an assembly that was set up today in Mitrovica defiance of the ethnic Albanian government in Kosovo.  The new assembly comes as the result of elections that took place in May, elections declared to be illegal by both Kosovo and the U.N.

The assembly consists of 45 elected members who say they will coordinate with officials in Belgrade to fight to retake Kosovo. 

It is not known what the effect of this new assembly will be. It may provide Serbs in Kosovo with an outlet to channel their anger and frustration responsibly, but it may also turn into an organized movement that could lead to additional violence between Kosovo and Serbia in the future. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Kosovo Serbs launch new assembly - 28 June 2008

Reuters - Kosovo Serbs to form parliament, rejecting new state - 26 June 2008