
Russia Denies Arresting Peacekeepers for Drug Dealing
Georgian media reports that several Russian peacekeepers were arrested for drug dealing is yet another attempt to discredit the Russian-led peacekeeping operation in Abkhazia, the Russian land forces said in a statement on October 16.
Tbilisi-based TV stations, Rustavi 2 and Mze, as well as the Georgian Public Broadcaster, reported on October 16 that the deputy commander of the peacekeeping forces and several other officers from the Russian peacekeeping troops, including their chief military doctor, were arrested by investigators from the Russian General Prosecutor”s Office for alleged drug dealing in the conflict zone.
Georgian officials immediately seized on the report, accusing the Russian peacekeepers of drug trafficking and arms smuggling.
“This is not the first case when Russian peacekeepers have been arrested for illegal activities,” Davit Bakradze, the Georgian state minister for conflict resolution issues, said on October 16. “We have numerous cases, wherein Russian peacekeepers were involved in smuggling, illegal activities and violations of human rights. And now we have this new case which, I think, demonstrates once again what their major occupation in the conflict zone is.”
“This is one more argument in favor of changing the current peacekeeping operation,” MP Nika Rurua, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee for defense and security, said. “They are there to trade in arms, drugs and to support the separatists.”
“Our accusations against the Russian peacekeepers have been confirmed once again. Naturally, we have to deal with the absolute absence of military discipline among the Russian peacekeepers,” Batu Kutelia, the deputy defense minister, said.
The command of the Russian land forces, however, said in a statement that the servicemen, who according to the Georgian media reports are in custody, “are in fact currently on duty.”
“They have learnt about their arrest and charges from media reports,” the statement reads. “The “chief military doctor” position, which was mentioned by the Georgian media, does not even exist.”
“This is yet another attempt to discredit Russian peacekeepers in the eyes of the public and to damage their reputation.”
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