Pankisi

Pankisi (Georgian: პანკისი) or the Pankisi Gorge (Georgian: პანკისის ხეობა, Pankisis Kheoba) is a valley region in Georgia, in the upper reaches of River Alazani just south of Georgia’s historic region of Tusheti between Mt Borbalo and the ruined 17th-century fortress of Bakhtrioni. Administratively, it is included in the Akhmeta municipality of the Kakheti region. An ethnic group called Kists of Chechen roots form the majority (75%) in the area.

Pankisi Gorge
Georgian: პანკისის ხეობა
Pankisi Gorge
Pankisi Gorge
Geography
Country Georgia
Coordinates42°07′N 45°16′E 

Area conditions
Main article: Pankisi Gorge crisis
Flag of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and Georgia in Pankisi Gorge

It had allegedly often been used as a base for transit, training and shipments of arms and financing by Chechen rebels and Islamic militants, including foreign fighters, many of whom followed Ruslan Gelayev.[1] Most of these accusations were around 2002, but others allege that it is more peaceful now,[2] although there are still many Chechen refugees living there.[3] The senior ISIS leader "Omar the Chechen" grew up in the area, where his family still lives,[4] and in 2014 Omar reportedly threatened to return to the area to lead a Muslim attack on Russian Chechnya.[5]

Cultural references

The situation in the Pankisi Gorge received an extensive fictional treatment factoring into several of the popular John Ringo anti-terrorism military science fiction books in the Paladin of Shadows series.

Notes
  1. Kleveman, Lutz, 'The New Great Game', Grove Press New York, 2003 page 35; sourced from New York Times August 15, 2002.
  2. BBC News, Russia's reach unnerves Chechens, Wednesday, 16 January 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7189024.stm Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  3. UNHCR, 'Chechen refugees in Pankisi Gorge resume normal life after Georgia scare', 1 October 2008. http://www.unhcr.org/48e389e12.html Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  4. Akhmeteli, Nina (2014-07-09). "Georgian roots of Isis commander". BBC News.
  5. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-08/how-islamic-state-grooms-chechen-fighters-against-putin. Missing or empty |title= (help)

References
  • Shorena Kurtsikidze & Vakhtang Chikovani, Ethnography and Folklore of the Georgia-Chechnya Border: Images, Customs, Myths & Folk Tales of the Peripheries, Munich: Lincom Europa, 2008.


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