Georgia fears Turkey can seize Adjara

PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgia issued passports to 25 thous. Turks residing in Adjara for the past few years. Earlier Tbilisi expressed concerns that Turks can make up the majority of the population and seize the republic, Georgian newspaper reports.

As Georgian opposition MP Jondi Bagaturia noted, 25 thous. Turks gained Georgian citizenship for the past 2 years.

“These radical forces may come to power in Turkey, making recurrence of the scenario in Abkhazia and South Ossetia possible. This was a quite a deliberate step by the current authorities. Thus, the 25 thous. Turks with dual citizenship are authorized to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections due in October” Mr. Bagaturia said.

The MP further said that Turkish radical forces deem Adjara Turkish territory that Georgia ceased a century ago.

For this reason, he voiced intention to stage protest in Adjara on June 30, asking the whole opposition to back the initiative.