Sosnaliev: non-Active-Duty Soviet Officers Train Abkhaz Soldiers
Abkhazia defense minister Sultan Sosnaliev told the Russian daily Kommersant that Russian officers are traning the Abkhaz army, but they are not on active duty.
He confirmed that Abkhaz pilots are being trained, but said “there are no Russian instructors, we have our own instructors and pilots who can do everything…I myself am the honorable military pilot of USSR. There are others as well.”
Sosnaliev is a graduate of Syzran Aviation School and Zhukov Academy of Anti-Aircraft Defence. He served 29 years in Soviet anti-aircraft defence as a pilot, then as the interceptor wing commander and the commander of the aviation center before retiring at the rank of colonel. Sosnaliev served as Abkhaz defense minister fro 1992 to 1996 an was re-appointed 25 February 2005.
Journalists present at the recent trainings of the Abkhaz forces confirmed the participation of two Su-27 Flanker fighter jets and one Yak-41 Freestyle VTOL fighter that was used as a reconnoisance aircraft. Some 1500 regular troops, and around 3000 reserve troops were reported to have participated in the training, that included a scenario of repelling a sea-landing invasion by the Georgian troops, aimed at “occupation” of the Gali district of Abkhazia.
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