Russian Diplomat Warns of War if Peacekeepers Leave

Withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping forces from Abkhazia will result into war, Vyacheslav Kovalenko, the Russian ambassador to Georgia, said on May 9.

He said Russia “has no confrontation with Georgia” and added that Moscow decision to deploy additional peacekeepers in Abkhazia did not infringe existing agreements regulating the peacekeeping operation.

The Russian diplomat was speaking with journalists after paying tribute to the memorial of the Unknown Soldier in Tbilisi to mark Victory Day on May 9.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on May 9 its additional troops in Abkhazia had launched performing their duties after finishing setting up of base camps in the Tkvarcheli district of the breakaway region.