Georgia Claims Russian Troops in Kodori

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 12, 2002) – Georgian Border Guard Department reports Russian soldiers entered Georgian controlled upper Kodori gorge in breakaway Abkhazia on August 11.

Delegation of Georgian Defense Ministry arrived in Kodori concerning the incident. The border guards deployed in upper Kodori gorge are mobilized.

Up to 30 Russia border guards entered the gorge on July 31 and deployed on Georgian territory.  Russian soldiers left the gorge only after the talks with Georgian Defense Minister Davit Tevzadze.