Defense Minister Confirms Violation of Georgia’s Airspace

Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze confirmed on September 14 the reports over violation of Georgia’s air space by Russian military helicopters.
 
“Four military helicopters really penetrated into Georgia’s air space early on September 14. They flew over the Kodori gorge [the only territory in breakaway Abkhazia under the Georgian authorities’ control] within 10 minutes and then left,” Giorgi Baramidze said, adding that the situation is now under full control of the central authorities.  
 
Giorgi Baramidze has arrived in Kodori gorge on September 14 to inspect the situation on the scene.

The Russian Defense Ministry also denied the report. “No flights were made by Russian Air Force helicopters along the border with Georgia last night. Nor did they violate the Georgian border,” Col. Alexander Drobishevski, a spokesman for the Russian Air Force told Interfax.

The Russian media alleged last week that one of the terrorist suspects, allegedly behind the hostage-taking in Beslan school, is hiding in the Kodori gorge.

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