Two Blasts Reported on Abkhaz Railway
Two blasts occured on the railway in Sokhumi on June 18, slightly damaging the tracks, Apsnypress news agency reported.
An investigation is underway, according to the report.
Interfax news agency quoted a source from the Abkhaz law enforcement agencies as saying that this “terrorist act” was directed against the Russian Railway Forces, which have been repairing rail infrastructure in Abkhazia since late May. Tbilisi has condemned the deployment of the Russian Railway Forces in Abkhazia, saying it was a prelude to military intervention. Moscow, however, has said it is a humanitarian measure aimed at “the socio-economic rehabilitation” of the region.
In an earlier incident, the Russian side said on June 13 that it had recovered a TM-62-M anti-tank mine under the tracks on a section of the Abkhaz railway currently being repaired by the Russian Railway Forces, adding that “an attempt to carry out a subversive-terrorist act” had been made against the Russian servicemen. However, on June 16 the Abkhaz side said that according to “conclusions by a specialist” the mine had been placed during the armed conflict in the region in 1992-1993.
