By empty (2/12/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Alikram Gumbatov -- who in June 1993 declared an independent Talysh-Mughan Republic in southeastern Azerbaijan -- against the life sentence handed down to him in July 2003 on charges of seizing power, abusing his official position, and creating an illegal armed formation. That sentence was the culmination of a retrial demanded by the Council of Europe, which considers Gumbatov a political prisoner. On 12 February, the online newspaper zerkalo.

By empty (2/11/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

David Shengelia announced on 11 February the self-liquidation of the Forest Brothers guerrilla formation of which he was commander. He handed over to police a large quantity of armaments, including two grenade launchers, 17 antitank missiles, one antiaircraft system, and several hundred automatic rifles, together with a large amount of ammunition. Shengelia said the new Georgian leadership does not need the guerrillas, and that he will move to Tbilisi for his personal safety as he \"made too many enemies\" in western Georgia.

By empty (2/11/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The deputy intelligence director of troubled Khost province was shot dead by a suspected Taliban guerrilla who later blew himself up, an official said, in an incident which underlines continuing instability in southeastern Afghanistan A spokesman for the ousted Islamic fundamentalist regime claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the intelligence director was targeted because he had given information to US forces and was formerly a member of an Afghan communist party. The south and southeast of Afghanistan is the former stronghold of the Taliban and remnants of the regime and their al-Qaeda allies are active in the region. United States-led coalition forces in these provinces come under regular attack and ambushes and kidnappings of foreigners have occurred in the region in recent months.