18 August 2003, 17:59
Two people were captured by Abkhazian party in Galsky region
An Abkhazian party kidnapped two people in the Galsky region, which is under its control, but almost completely populated by the Georgians. A source in the conflict zone reported.
According to the source, a group of customs officials of the unacknowledged Republic of Abkhazia, that were leaving the Galsky region because of re-deployment, rushed in the house of the Tsulaias and captured 32-year old Merab Tsulaia, as well as a guest staying in the house. The name of the latter remains unknown.
Before leaving the Abkhazian customs officials had been beating the captured and members of the Tsulaias for several hours trying to get information about an explosion and fire on a minibus with a group of customs officials that had occurred nearby on August 4. As a result of that incident four customs committee officials of the unacknowledged republic were killed and tree were wounded (the Abkhazian party makes Georgian guerillas acting in the zone of the Abkhazian conflict responsible for the incident).
