Russia Reaffirms Neutrality

Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili told reporters after the meeting with Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze on March 16, that Moscow “is neutral” in Adjara crisis.

“This is Georgia’s internal affair, but Russia is neighboring and friendly country and is concerned with recent developments. Tensions might lead to destabilization in entire region,” the Russian Ambassador said.

Russian diplomat also said that Russian militaries, deployed at Batumi military base, “are ordered to remain in base and maintain neutrality.”

Moscow’s Mayor Yuri Luzhkov arrived on March 16 in Batumi to support, as Luzhkov said, his “friend and brother” Aslan Abashidze.