Russian Reports: Georgia Sends More Troops to Kodori
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov called for an immediate monitoring of upper Kodori Gorge, where he said Georgian troops are deployed in violation of the 1994 Moscow agreement on cease-fire and separation of forces between the Abkhaz and Georgian sides.
?UN observers and Russian peacekeepers are insisting that a total inspection of the so called police forces that are currently deployed in upper Kodori Gorge be carried out,? Ivanov said.
Meanwhile, Russian news agencies reported on July 31 that Georgia has sent 500 additional troops to Kodori Gorge.
?This morning, two military convoys headed from Zugdidi to Kodori gorge, which included 50 vehicles with the number plates of the Georgian armed forces. 40 of them were trucks. These [convoys] were observed by the peacekeeping forces? checkpoint number 302,? Igor Konashenkov, an aide to the commander of the Russian land forces, was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass news agency.
?There were a total of 500 servicemen [in the vehicles]. One of the convoys was commanded by the chief Georgian military observer in the conflict zone, Valery Japaridze,? he added.
Georgian officials have yet to comment on this report.
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