MoD: Russian Military Build-up Underway in Gali, Akhalgori
The Russian Federation is increasing its military presence on the occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Davit Nardaia, head of the Defense Ministry’s Analytical Department.
“This process is especially actively underway in Gali [breakaway Abkhazia] and Akhalgori [breakaway Abkhazia] districts,” he said on April 13 after meeting with a group of foreign military attaches.
Temur Iakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, said that “neutralization of this threat will depend on how we will manage to reduce political tensions inside the country.”
On April 11 the Georgian Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing protest over “provocative military maneuvers” of the Russian navy on the Black Sea. The ministry called on the international community to act “to avoid further tensions and possible provocations by Russia.”
President Saakashvili said in an interview with Newsweek, published on April 11 that although he did not think that Russia’s PM and President, Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, respectively, “would appreciate” an idea of again attacking Georgia, “I could suppose that some of the military authorities in Russia think of attacking Georgia today, to say later that it was me who invaded Russia to distract the attention of my opposition.”
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
