Georgia Says Russia Partially Follows CFE Treaty

Georgia said Moscow is only partially following its international obligations under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), as Russia still maintains a military presence at the Gudauta military base in breakaway Abkhazia, as well as keeps military hardware in the other breakaway region of South Ossetia.

This position was voiced by First Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava at a Conference to Review the CFE, which is being held from May 29-June 2 in Vienna.

The Georgian side noted that progress has been achieved in withdrawal of the Russian military bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki, but Russia’s commitments “will be considered fulfilled only after a complete withdrawal of all Russian military equipment and personnel from Gudauta.”

“It should be noted that a huge number of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty are kept on the territory of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali [in breakaway South Ossetia]… The existence of this uncontrolled equipment is a rough infringement of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,” the Georgian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on May 30.