Kommersant: Abkhaz Military Training Cut Short because of UN Observer Presence

Russia’s daily Kommersant reported on August 20 from the military excercises in Abkhazia, that the trainings were cut short following the unexpected arrival of the UN observers, who were filming the excercises on video cameras.

According to the reporter, chief of staff of the Abkhaz army Anatoly Zaytsev unexpectedly announced that the excercises would last only an hour as “there would not be enough ammunition.” Kommersant was told by the present vice-colonel of the Abkhaz army Valiko Pachulia that “ammunition is of course sufficient, but it’s summer, the UN people would be too hot.” Abkhaz separatist president Sergey Bagapsh, responding to the Kommersant’s direct question, confirmed tht the trainings were cut short because of the UN observers’ presence.

Kommersant states, based on conversation with the same vice-colonel that the Abkhaz troops refrained from using heavy mortars and Su-25 Frogfoot jets for the same reason. Anti-aircraft guns, tanks, one Mi-8 and two Czech-made jet trainer L-39s were used in the training.

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