Sokhumi, Moscow Deny Presence of Russian Troops in Abkhazia

The Russian Defense Ministry denied the Georgian side?s accusations that Russia has sent extra troops to breakaway Abkhazia following the October 3 presidential elections in the unrecognized republic. Authorities in the breakaway region also refuted these reports.

?The Abkhaz authorities have never used and will never use armed forces, especially those from neighboring countries, to settle internal problems,? reads a statement issued by the press office of the unrecognized republic?s President.

Russian media reported quoting the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Vyacheslav Sedov as saying that Russia has only those servicemen who serve in the peacekeeping troops under the aegis of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Abkhazia.

In a statement issued on October 15, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said that Russia has dispatched several hundred troops to Abkhazia, after the crisis erupted following the disputed October 3 presidential elections in the breakaway region.

?Georgia has confirmed the information that Russia has illegally sent several hundred servicemen from its special purpose units to Abkhazia, Georgia, after October 3. Moreover, mobilization of armed groups of the North Caucasus Confederation is taking place in Sokhumi [capital of Abkhazia] and Gudauta. Members of this organization, under the command of Shamil Basaev [Chechen warlord] were actively engaged in the armed conflict in Abkhazia [in 1992-93],? the Georgian Foreign Ministry statement reads.