The Russian Foreign Ministry said on July 25 that it is closely watching developments in Kodori gorge, which ?borders with Russia and Abkhazia,? and warned Tbilisi to refrain from use of force, which ?may provoke a new conflict in the region.?
In a statement the Russian Foreign Ministry also accused the Georgian side of violating the 1994 Moscow agreement on cease-fire and separation of forces, as Tbilisi has sent troops to Kodori gorge where rebel warlord Emzar Kvitsiani and his militia are based.
?A convoy of 30 Kamaz-type trucks, 18 Niva off-road cars and 4 UAZ-type vehicles, led by the Georgian Minister of Defense [Irakli Okruashvili] and the Interior Minister [Vano Merabishvili] moved across [Russian peacekeepers?] observation post number 302, despite the attempts of the peacekeepers to obstruct illegal actions of the Georgian side,? the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
?We share the anxiety and concern of the Abkhaz side over the growth of tensions in the Kodori gorge, over the sending of a large number of Georgian armed forces, and over the possible launch of hostilities there. We are concerned about a serious violation of the 1994 Moscow agreement on cease-fire and separation of forces. This area [Kodori gorge] directly borders Russian territory, and the ongoing developments there harm the security of the Russian Federation,? the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
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