Occupied Abkhazia rejects central government assistance in containment of fire
Occupied Abkhazia rejects central government assistance in containment of fire

There is no need for help from Georgia, said Sergey Shamba, the de-facto Abkhazian Security Council Secretary, in a phone interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB).

According to Shamba, Abkhazian institutions are handling the situation in fire-affected districts. He said that Russian helicopters usually help to contain the seats of fires in the mountainous areas. “In case of emergency, we will ask Russia for help,” Shamba said.

The de-facto Abkhazian Security Council Secretary also commented on fire threatening Gagra. He claimed the situation is under full control.

“We guarantee that the population and their houses will not be in danger. Our Emergency Situations Ministry controls the situation, and I am sure there will be no problems,” Sergey Shamba claimed.

The Georgian government said it has non-stop and two-way communication with the representatives of the de-facto government. Georgia offered assistance to occupied Abkhazia in battling the raging fires.