TBILISI/SUKHUMI. Aug 1 (Interfax-AVN) - Extra Russian peacekeeping units and so-called volunteers - Cossacks and representatives of the North Caucasian republics - have been moved to Abkhazia within the past few weeks, the Georgian State Department of Intelligence reports.
The assignment of new armed units to Abkhazia results from fears of the Abkhaz authorities that Georgia may soon activate guerrilla units and launch combat operations, Georgian intelligence chief Avtandil Ioseliani told Interfax on Thursday.
These fears are groundless, because Tbilisi "is not planning to seize Abkhazia," Ioseliani remarked.
The massing of armed irregular units and Russian troops in Abkhazia will result in tensions in the conflict zone, and any provocation is fraught with an outbreak of violence, he said.
Ioseliani also pointed out at processes that are underway in Abkhaz governing bodies in the wake of President Vladislav Ardzinba's serious illness.
According to Ioseliani, several clans have started fighting for power in Sukhumi, but no potential successor of Ardzinba is likely to cooperate with Tbilisi.
Commenting on reports that Georgian guerrillas would scale up activities on Thursday, the intelligence chief said the Georgian authorities were not in control of those people. He said they were refugees from Abkhazia and trying to return home by any means.
At the same time, he said reports on the guerrilla movement in Abkhazia were grossly exaggerated.
Abkhaz Vice-President Valery Arshba has described Ioseliani's statement as "complete absurdity."
"I declare with full responsibility that no additional contingent of peacekeepers or volunteers has been sent," Arshba told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
He said the Georgian intelligence service has released "forestalling information," and referred to the Abkhaz secret services in saying that Georgian guerrillas and possibly Chechen rebels are amassing in the Kodori Gorge.
"The latest data on the matter is being checked," Arshba said.
Interfax has not obtained the opinion of official representatives of the peacekeeping force in Abkhazia on this issue.