Bagapsh Says No Plans for New Russian Bases in Abkhazia

There will be no new Russian military bases in Abkhazia, Sergey Bagapsh, the Abkhaz leader, said on September 2, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Neither will warships of Russia’s Black Sea fleet be deployed off Abkhazia, he added.

“Only [Russian] land forces, which have been here for many years, will remain in Abkhazia,” Bagapsh said.

Russian news agencies reported on August 29 that Russia planned two military bases in Abkhazia – one in Gudauta and another one in Ochamchire. Georgia has long claimed that the Gudauta military base in Abkhazia was in fact never closed down, with the Russian military continuing to use the infrastructure there.