Georgia refutes claims of Russian authorities about return of IDPs to Abkhazia

The Georgian Foreign Ministry does not agree with First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Valery Loshchinin, who said that the problem of the return of IDPs to Abkhazia had been settled, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Kakha Sikharulidze said on September 2.

"Relying upon an unreliable source, Loshchinin says that the relevant bodies of the UN confirm the return of IDPs to the Gali district (of Abkhazia). How can the issue of IDP return be solved, when there are no security guarantees in Gali?" asked the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister.

During a recent visit to Sukhumi, Valery Loshchinin met with Abkhazian de facto Prime Minister Raul Khajimba. At the meeting Loshchinin stressed the importance of enabling Georgian displaced persons to return to their abandoned homes in Abkhazia and praised the measures taken by the Abkhazian de facto government to prepare for this process.