Abkhazia claims two more Georgian spy planes shot down

Abkhazian authorities say two unmanned Georgian spy planes have been shot down over the breakaway republic's airspace on Sunday. Georgian authorities say none of their unmanned planes were in the area.

“Around 16.10 two spy planes were spotted in Abkhazian airspace. Over the course of fifteen to twenty minutes both of them were shot down. The fragments of the planes were scattered over the area. Some of the fragments have been found and the first pictures show that they are the same type of plane that was shot down previously,” said Garry Kupalba, the Abkhazian Deputy Defence Minister.

Georgia admits its spy planes do fly over Abkhazia and will continue to do so, but denies involvement in Sunday's incident.

”No Georgian planes have flown in this area. We have no idea why the Abkhazian side came up with such a report. It’s traditional for them to spread around lies, so probably they are just keeping up with the tradition,” said Shota Utashvili from Georgian Interior Ministry.

Russia's Foreign Ministry says this latest incident indicates Georgian authorities are intentionally trying to make the current situation in the region even worse.

”The appearance of new spy aircraft in the restricted zone over Abkhazia and their destruction is a sign that Tbilisi has ignored our repeated warnings regarding the violation of the 1994 Moscow agreement on the Ceasefire and Separation of Forces as well as the respective decisions of the UN Security Council. By using unmanned spy planes and increasing its military presence near the conflict zones, the Georgian authorities have chosen the path of consciously escalating tensions in the region. Tbilisi will carry full responsibility for its actions,” said a spokesman from Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

Two weeks ago a Georgian spy plane was shot down over the Gali region of Abkhazia. On that occasion Georgia admitted that one of its drones had been shot down and accused Russia of perpetrating the act. Russia, however, has strongly denied it was responsible, stating that Geogia had faked the so-called evidence.

Today's incident comes straight after a statement from the Abkhazian government claming that Georgia could launch a military operation against its breakaway republic in the next few days.

Earlier in the week the Russian Foreign Ministry stated Georgia was increasing its military presence on the border of Abkhazia in preparation for an offensive.

Abkazia’s military say Georgia has brought more than 7,000 soldiers and heavy military equipment to the unofficial border.

“We have definite information that Georgia is planning an armed offensive against our republic. This plan includes the occupation of part of our territory within a limited period of time. We know Georgia is targeting the most important sites on the coast. We also know Georgian military units will be taking action to terminate our state system. The Abkhazian military has been placed on alert. We are prepared to counter aggression if need be,” said Garry Kupalba, the Abkhazian Deputy Defence Minister.

The reports have also been backed by a source within the Russian defenсe establishment.

Russia is ready to give a tough response to any attempts by Tbilisi to use force.
Earlier this week Moscow sent more peacekeepers to the region.

While Abkhazian officials say they would be glad to see more peacekeepers in the area, Tbilisi stated that introducing new peacekeepers without its approval was unacceptable.

“We don’t need a war. And the Abkhazian and Ossetian people don’t need one either. There is a force that wants the defeat of the Georgian and Abkhazian and Ossetian people. I promise that I won’t let it happen,” said Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

The Abkhazian Foreign Minister, Sergey Shamba, believes the presence of more Russian peacekeepers in the region would secure the territory “where the scale of provocations from the Georgian side has increased.”

Tbilisi, though, has vigorously denied all the allegations and accused Russia of “taking provocative steps.”

Meanwhile, Russia says it's merely following its obligations, alleging at the same time that Georgia is not following agreements not to apply force in the area.

Experts are inclined to think Georgia could be escalating the conflict in Abkhazia in order to secure greater support from the West.

“Georgia has its own interest in constantly attracting attention to the conflict. It has parliamentary elections coming up, as well as the NATO summit in December. As long as Bush is still in office, the Georgians as much as possible want to convince Europe and the West that it needs to be defended from Russian aggression,” Sergey Mikheev, an expert from the Centre of Political Technologies in Moscow, told RT.

Tensions high since 1992

Abkhazia is one of Georgia’s breakaway republics. It separated in 1992 after its local parliament declared independence. Georgia objected and sent troops into the region. A violent conflict followed which claimed thousands of lives, and forced thousands of others from their homes.

Russian peacekeepers and UN observers managed to stop the violence and have remained stationed in Abkhazia ever since.

Several days ago Russia decided to increase the peacekeeping force following reports of a military operation being planned by Tbilisi.

According to the commander of CIS peacekeeping forces, Major General Sergey Chaban, the situation remains tense and complicated.

“This is because the sides have refused to negotiate for 18 months. Lately they've had more accusations of not following previous agreements and even threats. All this is alarming, if we don't take any measure the sides may soon result to using force,” Chaban says.

Many Abkhazians greet Russian peacekeepers with flowers. This republic has been living with uncertainty for more than fifteen years, and there is fear over the possibility of military action from Georgia.

The peacekeeping forces remain on high alert, but most people in Abkhazia are hoping that talks will resume. A new war is something that nobody wants, in a region still healing its wounds from the last conflict.

Despite protests from Georgian officials, it doesn’t seem likely that Russian peacekeepers will leave Abkhazia in the near future. For thousands of locals, especially for people with Russian citizenship, the peacekeepers remain the only guarantee of peace in the region.

http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/24292

It's time for Russia to show her teeth to NATO. I believe Georgia will never try to invade Abhkazia knowing they will face ultimate response from the Bear and also knowing NATO will not move a finger.