APPEAL OF THE GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT TO THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL MR. BUTROS-BUTROS GALI AND CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFERENCE ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE MR. BENJAMINO ANDREATTA

As you know, in 1992-1993, Abkhaz separatists supported by foreign mercenaries conducted genocide of the Georgian population and ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia. The Georgian government has repeatedly tried to settle the conflict peacefully, yet all the achieved agreements were violated by the separatists. Unfortunately, the same fate befell the agreements achieved at latest talks in Geneva, according to which displaced persons return home was to start on February 10. The displaced persons were to return first to the district of Gali that used to be almost fully populated by Georgians prior to the tragedy of September 1993.

On February 6 the Abkhaz separatists, again with the assistance of hired North-Caucasus gunmen and Cossacks, used heavy machinery to attack the Georgian population still remaining in Gali. They mercilessly burnt down several villages on both banks of the river Inguri, and killed over 60 civilians; the remaining population (primarily the elderly, women and children) hid in woods where they face the danger of dying from cold and starvation.

The Parliament of Georgia calls for taking urgent measures to end the regular criminal actions of the separatists, save the civilian population, unconditionally fulfill the Geneva agreements.

On behalf of the Parliament of Georgia

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Vakhtang Rcheulishvili

Tbilisi, February 8 1994

(Bulletin of the Parliament of Georgia, # 15, 1994, p. 92)