A former Georgian official wanted for terrorism, armed rebellion and deliberately disobeying the government has been arrested in Tbilisi.
Emzar Kvitsiani, former representative of Georgian president in Kodori Gorge, was wanted for terrorism, armed rebel attempt and disobedience to central authorities. He was arrested at passport control at Tbilisi International Airport following a flight from Moscow today.
He fled Georgia in 2006 after declaring his disobedience to central government. Georgian law-enforcers presumed he has been hiding in Russia since then. At the time, Georgia’s Interior Ministry announced a 100 000 GEL reward for Kvitsiani.
The former official said he knew he would be arrested, and stated he returned to Georgia to "answer all the questions” about the 2006 rebellion in Kodori Gorge and his tensions with the former government.
Kvitsiani commanded an informal military unit called Monadire during the war in Abkhazia, from 1992 to 1993. After the conflict ended, his unit remained in the Kodori Gorge and controlled the territory, which is now a part of breakaway Abkhazia.
His unofficial military unit, Monadire, was later included in the Georgian military and Kvitsiani was promoted to the role of President Eduard Shevardnadze’s representative in Kodori Gorge. The Gorge remained the only part of Abkhazia controlled by Georgian forces.
Kvitsiani, together with Chechen warlord Ruslan Gelaev, were involved in Kodori Crisis in 2001 when Georgian and Chechen fighters confronted military units of secessionist Abkhazia.
Kvitsiani’s strong beliefs saw him oppose the Georgian Rose Revolution in 2003, where he confronted ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili and his party United National Movement.
Kvitsiani’s military unit was officially dismissed in 2005 and he was fired from the Georgian army. The former commander refused to obey the central government and remained in Kodori Gorge. This led to conflict in 2006, in which the Georgian military took over the Gorge, and Kvitsiani with his people were driven out of the region.
Over the years Georgian police suspected Kvitsiani and his subordinates of being involved in many criminal activities, including homicide and kidnapping.