Africa | America | Asia | Australasia | Europe | India | Middle East | UK | US

Russia, Abkhazia accuse Georgia of preparing for military conflict

Posted : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:58:01 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Europe (World)
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
Europe World News | Home
Moscow/Tbilisi - Russia along with Sergei Bagapch, the leader of the Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia, on Saturday accused Georgia of preparing for a military takeover of Abkhazia, the Interfax news agency reported. According to the report, the Russian Defence Ministry in Moscow criticized Tbilisi for choosing "the way of violence to solve the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict."

This came as Georgia announced an increase in its defence expenditure for 2008 by 100 million euros (157 million dollars) to total nearly one billion euros in light on the increased tensions in its breakaway regions.

Nika Rurua, the deputy chairman of the Georgian parliament's defence committee, alleging that Russia itself was preparing to annex Abkhazia, said Saturday during a parliamentary session that "the threat has increased sharply, which above all can be traced back to the developments in the separatist areas."

"Russian peacekeeping soldiers are creating lasting destabilization in the conflict region," said Rurua, adding that Georgia would provide its air force and marines with additional munitions and equipment as well as train its reservists.

Russia deployed an added number of its troops in Abkhazia and the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia in anticipation of a possible Georgian attack.

On Monday, Abkhazian President Bagapch accused the Georgian secret service of being behind twin bomb blasts that killed two people Monday in the regional capital Sukhumi.

Georgia rejected the allegations as "absurd."

Abkhazia unilaterally separated from Georgia in 1992, which was followed by the 1992-1993 armed conflict that saw Georgian forces defeated and a ceasefire in 1994.

International organizations, including the United Nations, the European Union and others, still recognize Abkhazia as a part of Georgia.

Copyright, respective author or news agency

Share/Save/Bookmark

Article : Russia, Abkhazia accuse Georgia of preparing for military conflict
Print this article
Email this article

Stay Updated
News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader



Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 

 

More Europe (World) News click here
Follow The Earth Times
Subscribe to RSS Follow Earth Times on TwitterNews by email
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
 



 
Subscribe to free Earthtimes
News Alerts by Email Click here
For RSS Feeds Click here
or Create your own RSS

Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases


The Earth Times
News Category

© 2009 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
Earth Times accept no responsibility or liability either directly or indirectly for views or opinions expressed in articles or comments.