Ex-army chief claims police cited occupation risk in Chorchana operation

Former Georgian Defence Forces Chief Vladimir Chachibaia has told a court that the Interior Ministry justified its actions during the 2019 Chorchana operation by citing concerns that Russian occupation forces could seize territory near the village.

Testifying before the Tbilisi City Court in the so-called Chorchana case, Chachibaia said the Defence Forces played only a supporting role, providing engineering and logistical assistance.

"As representatives of the Interior Ministry explained to us at the time, there was a certain threat that the occupying forces could take control of the territory, and that was the reason for their response," Chachibaia said.

He stressed that he had no direct knowledge of the specific threat facing the area or the information on which then Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia based his decision.

"We took part in the process only as a supporting element. Our role was mainly related to engineering and logistics. You should ask the Interior Minister what his decision was based on because I do not know," Chachibaia said.

The former military chief added that although the Defence Forces had intelligence on the overall situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia, they had no specific information about the circumstances surrounding the area in question.

Chachibaia also declined to comment on whether any criminal offence had been committed.

"I cannot assess whether this was a crime. That is for the court to decide," he said, adding that he respected Gakharia "as a person."