Tbilisi, September 28, 1993

On the 27th of September, 1 p.m., Sukhumi was filled with armed to the teeth gunmen from Russia, Chechnya, and Abkhazia who supported by tanks and armored vehicles have taken Sukhumi today. This another barbarian action was also preceded by an agreement on the temporary cease-fire and the start of the negotiations. The aggressors took the lives of hundreds of people, burned houses, and whole residential blocks. We failed to evacuate Sukhumi residents completely. Their lives are in danger. The suffering Georgia has become an object of one more tragedy. In Abkhazia the Georgian population is mercilessly killed. Georgia was defeated with unequal forces in the war which in the words of a minister of one great state was unleashed so as to secure strategic interests of this country in Georgia. These were imperial forces that inspired the conflict in Abkhazia which results in the occupation of more than a half of the Abkhazian territory. It was possible to save Sukhumi even yesterday and only Russia could do that -

this was the request we submitted to Moscow. I have sent a telegram to the Russian leadership agreeing to enter the CIS whose opponent I have been to date. I have also agreed with the proposal of Russia's minister of defence to bring in additional armed forces to Georgia in connection with the Abkhazian conflict.

As a matter of fact, Georgia has been brought to its knees. However, it was not enough. Regrettably, I have to admit frankly that external forces could not defeat us but for the disturbances inside the country and betrayal of our own countrymen. The time will come when everything will be called by its proper names. One of the reasons of the fall of Sukhumi is also that the external force has excellently played the card of betrayal. I and my countrymen are shocked by what has happened. God knows I made everything to prevent this terrible day. But I failed. May my contemporaries and descendants forgive me...

Edward Shevardnadze