Gocha Esebua and UN Hostage Crisis in Georgia, 1998

UN military observers Captain Ronald Garcia (Uruguay), Captain Julio Navas (Uruguay), Major Maarten Moelgaard (Sweden) and Lieutenant Colonel Jaroslav Kulisek (Czechia), who were based in the western Georgian town of Zugdidi, held hostage in Georgia by opposition terrorists, Thursday, 19 February 1998. Around 20 gunmen, led by Gocha Esebua, are supporters of the late former Georgian president Zviad Gamsakhurdia. They have threatened to kill the four UN hostages and the mayor and his family if authorities do not release their jailed colleagues. Seven of the imprisoned men were arrested after a February 9 assassination attempt on President Eduard Shevardnadze. SHOWS: JIKASHKARI, GEORGIA 21/02/1998 ws house exterior; inside, pan across UN hostages and terrorists with machine guns; cu UN bullet proof vest, leaning against wall; SOT Lieutenant Colonel Jaroslav Kulisek (hostage) in ENGLISH: “I think the situation is very clear, there are hostages and we are now waiti