All Seven Killed People Lived in Pankisi Gorge before Special Operation

All seven people, who were killed as a result of special operation in Lopota Gorge, lived in Pankisi Gorge before special operation; residents of Duisi village told ICK.

“Aslan Margoshvili and Bahaudin Aldamov were local residents. Bahaudin Bagakashvili grew up here too; he finished school here and lived at his uncle’s for the last few weeks. Other four Chechens lived in the gorge too and police and security service had information about their presence here. On August 28 they were trying to leave Georgia; they did not enter Georgia as the MIA claimed,” residents of Duisi village said.

Expert of Caucasus issues Mamuka Areshidze confirmed the information too: “According to my versions, this unit had not entered Georgia from Dagestan; I can declare it without doubt. That unit was leaving Georgia for Dagestan though I do not know where and how they gathered and formed the unit and where they started from. I have an impression that their movement did not remain without our government’s attention; in other words, some governmental officials were involved in this case,” Mamuka Areshidze said.

Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs launched anti-terrorist operation in Lopota Gorge close to Georgian-Dagestan Border on August 28. According to the MIA, special operation started in response to the capture of 5 young men from Lapankuri forest. According to current information, young men disappeared on August 26. MIA claims the armed unit kept young men as hostages. On August 29 MIA reported that two officers of the MIA and one military doctor died during the special operation; five Georgian riot police officers were wounded. On August 29, deputy minister Shota Khizanishvili declared at the briefing in Telavi that 11 saboteurs were killed and 6 of them were in siege. On September 3, MIA announced names of only 7 killed saboteurs. Accoridng to the MIA, two of the killed people were citizens of Georgia: Aslan Margoshvili, birth date: 28/06/1990 and Bahaudin Kavtarashvili, date birth: 07/02/1986. Five killed people were citizens of the Russian Federation from the North Caucasus- one of them Bahaudin Bagakashvili was born in Grozno on February 10, 1986 and he has relatives in Pankisi Gorge. Other identified saboteurs are citizens of Russian Federation: Dukvakha Doshuev, date birth: 19/01/1968 Chechnya, Vegeno. Salam Zaurbekov, date birth: 14/12/1991, Chechnya, Grozno. Khashiev Jabarail, date birth: 24/01/1989, Ingushetia. Musa Aduev, date birth 28/03/1981, Grozni.

ICK