Russian MoD: Use of Force will Lead to ‘New War’ in Abkhazia

The use of force by Tbilisi in Abkhazia will lead to “a new war” in the region, the Russian Ministry of Defense warned on July 5.

The Russian MoD released a statement shortly after Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said at a news conference in Sokhumi that the Abkhaz side had “incontrovertible evidence” proving that Tbilisi intended to regain control of the breakaway region with the use of force.

“The Russian Ministry of Defense has received the information released at a news conference in Sokhumi on July 5 with concern,” the Russian MoD said in the statement posted on its website. “Such plans by Tbilisi can only be seen as yet another step towards further escalating tensions in the region, which will bring the conflict to a new war.”

Bagapsh claimed that the Georgian side’s plan involved simultaneous attacks on Abkhazia from the Zugdidi district and upper Kodori Gorge, as well as from the sea, in particular by landing forces around Gagra, Sokhumi and Ochamchire.

Anatoly Zaitsev, the chief of staff of the Abkhaz armed forces, said at the same press conference in Sokhumi that the plan involved an attack from the Zugdidi district on the Gali district in Abkhazia by two brigades of the Georgian armed forces and an attack from upper Kodori Gorge by a military unit the size of a half brigade.

He also said that it was planned “to block” checkpoints and posts of the Russian peacekeeping forces to prevent their intervention.

Similar allegations against Tbilisi were voiced on July 5 by the secessionist authorities in South Ossetia. The press office of South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity claimed in a statement that the current escalation in tension in the South Ossetian conflict zone indicated that Tbilisi was planning to regain control over the breakaway region with the use of force.