Georgian police begin mass round-up of Chechens in Tbilisi

[Presenter] Mass arrests of Chechens have started in Tbilisi. Since this morning, ethnic Chechens are being taken to district police departments. At 0730 [0330 gmt] [leader of the Chechen Diaspora in Georgia] Khizri Aldamov's family were apprehended at their home. Aldamov's family were taken to the Isani-Samgori police department, but later Khizri Aldamov himself was rushed to hospital No 9 with a heart attack. After that the members of the family of the president of the Chechen Diaspora were freed.

[Passage omitted: family interviewed]Our correspondent Tiko Peikrishvili is speaking live form hospital No 9. Tiko, in what condition is Aldamov at the moment and what else is known - what is the Chechens'detention this morning linked to?[Correspondent]

Khizri Aldamov's condition is relatively stable. As you know, he was rushed here with an acute attack of ischemic heart disease. This happened after he was taken together with the members of his family to the Isani-Samgori police department. It should be noted that apart from Khizri Aldamov, other Chechens living in Tbilisi are also held at police departments in almost all the districts of Tbilisi. They are being taken to police departments together with their families. We get phone calls here from different police offices. [Voice indistinct] even children - 16-year-olds - are being detained and their fingerprints and photos are being taken.

As is known, no policeman had a warrant to enter any of the homes. It is not known either why such mass arrests of Chechens are taking place and why these people are taken to police departments. A few minutes ago - an hour ago, a Chechen was brought to a police department in Vazha Pshavela [Avenue]. He lives in Georgia as a refugee and is a student at the drama institute. He was brought to the police department together with members of his family. We were not allowed into the police office. His lawyer, Sevdia Ugrekhelidze, was, so to say, forced out of the police office, and was not allowed to attend the questioning. [Passage omitted: lawyer interviewed]The mood among the Chechens here is quite negative. They do not know why the mass arrests of Chechens took place this morning, and, specifically, what purpose the police are pursuing, and why they are being photographed [voice indistinct]. The point is that it is not only Chechen refugees who are being arrested but also Chechens who are Georgian citizens. Khizri Aldamov's family and several other families who were detained by the Isani-Samgori police this morning are Georgian citizens of Chechen nationality. National enmity is being mentioned and theories are being put forward. NGO representatives have visited the hospital. They do not have any information either on what grounds the police are acting when they break into homes illegally - without any documentation or sanction - and take Chechens from their home to police departments and question them. It is not yet known what information the police want to get from them and what these mass arrests are aimed at.[Presenter] Tiko, has any senior police representative already commented? [Correspondent] None of the policemen, let alone senior police officers, has made any comment. Even the lawyers are not being told why their defendants have been detained.

Georgian Interior Ministry elusive on reasons for Chechen arrests
Source: Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi, in Georgian 1100 gmt 7 Dec 02

Presenter] The Interior Ministry is citing the need to toughen the passport regime as the reason for the mass detention of people of Chechen nationality at Tbilisi's police departments. On arrival at the police offices, Chechen men are photographed and their fingerprints are taken. A special news briefing started at the Interior Ministry an hour ago, at which the ministry has been explaining the reasons behind the mass arrests of Chechens. We are broadcasting live form the Interior Ministry where our correspondent Tiko Peikrishvili is now. Tiko, how do they explain at the Interior Ministry the events that have been developing since this morning?[Correspondent] As a matter of fact, the Interior Ministry does not have an official explanation as to what has been happening since this morning. They say that there is a plan, drawn up jointly by the Interior Ministry, the Security Ministry and the Government Guard Service, which envisages checks of foreign citizens. However, according to available information, there is no court decision explaining why each of them was arrested at their homes from 0600 [0200 gmt] to 0700 [0300 gmt] - this was happening at dawn. Armed policemen made their way into their homes and escorted them to police departments. The Interior Ministry does not have an answer to whether or not there was a court decision warranting their entry into a specific person's home. [Passage omitted: known facts]The briefing held in a rather tense atmosphere ended a few minutes ago. The ministry does not have an answer, as such, to the question as to what has been going on in Tbilisi, and as it emerged here, not only in Tbilisi.[Presenter] Who conducted the briefing? Was the minister there and who was answering questions?[Correspondent] The interior minister did not show up at the news conference. It was the press service that provided information within its competence. The briefing was also attended by the chief of Tbilisi's administrative police and the head of the general inspection who said that not a single detainee had yet filed a complaint, which pointed to the fact that their detention was carried out in full compliance with the law.

Those Chechen terrorist pigs will pay from the crimes they have commited.In october 2001 Chechen terrorists kidnapped an Indian boy from Grozny.He was a student who with Russian friends had come to study.And then he was freed by the great Russian army.I thank the Russian army from saving someone of my race.And spetznaz thanks from your pro-India posts.People like fusion should shut their trap.And one more thing do you like Indian people and are you Russian.Please reply.
Regrads
Ditchman345

And one more thing do you like Indian people and are you Russian.

Do i like Indian people? The answer is yes, and i have many Indian friends (actually two of them are such close friends they are as close to me as a brother would be). Hence i like Indians, and i respect their quiet dignity, inner fortitude, and focused energy. And they are friends i can always rely on.

Am i Russian? The answer to that is no. I am not Russian. I am actually African (from Kenya), and if you want to know more click on my name and you will be taken to my homepage where you can learn more.

Thanks for your kind words and take care of yourself.

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