17:33, 21 August 2003

Women refugees released hostage and left Metrostroy building seized in Tbilisi

Seventeen women refugees from Abkhazia who had seized a Metrostroy office in Tbilisi yesterday released a hostage and left the building in the evening. They made such a decision after they had got assurances they would be granted habitation in another building.

This became possible after talks with parliament member Giya Karkarashvili and former Abkhazian prime minister Londer Tsaava.

As a result of the talks, the women also released Metrostroy Head Tamaz Dokhnadze, whom they had held as a hostage.

The women refugees demanded housing. Several of them held torches lit at their side for several hours and were ready to set themselves on fire if the building had been stormed.

Police sealed off the building.

Source: ITAR-TASS News Agency