KALININGRAD. July 29 (Interfax-AVN) - The problem surrounding Georgia's Pankisi gorge, where Chechen rebels and mercenaries are hiding out, can be solved only by force and with the participation of Russian units, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said at a press conference in Kaliningrad on Monday.
"I can see no other way to solve the Pankisi gorge issue than with the assistance of Russian special task forces," the minister said.
"Large groups of terrorists are still on Georgian territory, and Georgia cannot do anything about them now and will not be able to do anything in future," Ivanov replied to Interfax-Military News Agency.
The rebels in Georgia "are trying to break into Russia, and we have to take preventive measures," he said.
Russian units have been combating a large guerrilla gang on the Chechen section of the Russian-Georgian border for more than two days, the minister noted. "I have reported on it to the Russian president. We control the situation. A few rebels have been captured, but there are losses among border guards as well," he stressed.
"We do not have any other way out except taking preventive measures," Ivanov concluded.