TBILISI, February 28 (AVN) - The Akhemeta district of Georgia has started preparations for Chechen refugees' return to their homeland, Valery Vashakidze, Georgian minister of refugees affairs and resettlement, told the Military News Agency on Wednesday.
Ethnic Chechens living at the south of the district, mainly in the Pankisi gorge, helped more than 7,000 of their tribesmen find shelter during the anti-guerrilla operation, Vashakidze said.
The ministry's officers started registration of all refugees in order to help them leave Georgia without any problemsy. Georgian authorities are waiting for the end of hostilities to provide the refugees assistance in organised returning to their permanent residential areas.