Russia 'deploys missiles' in breakaway region of Abkhazia

Russia says it has deployed S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in the breakaway region of Abkhazia in Georgia. The Georgian government - which refuses to acknowledge Abkhazia's independence - says it is "concerned" by the move.

The announcement comes just days after an unscheduled visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the region.
Russia recognised Abkhaz independence in 2008 after winning a brief war with Georgia over nearby South Ossetia.

In a statement released by the Russian government, air force commander-in-chief General Alexander Zelin said the role of the missiles would be "anti-aircraft defence of the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia."

"We have deployed the S-300 system on Abkhaz territory, which, alongside other aircraft defence systems of the ground forces, will solve the problems of air defence of the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," he was quoted as saying.

The Georgian government, which officially still hopes to bring the breakaway regions back under its control, has reacted angrily.
Government officials in Tblisi accuse Moscow of breaching the ceasefire agreements which ended the war two years ago, and say Russia is projecting its power in the region - which should be of concern to NATO.

One defence expert here in Moscow said he believed the announcement was a warning to NATO not to help Georgia build up its fledgling air force.

The Abkhaz foreign minister, Maxim Gvinjia, later contradicted Gen Zelin, telling the BBC that the general's statement on the S-300s had been "misinterpreted."

But Sergey Shamba, the Abkhazian Prime Minister, later told the BBC that the missiles were in Abkhazia, and had already been there for about a year.

A spokesman for the US state department also said the missiles appeared to have been in place for some time.

"It is our understanding that Russia has had S-300 missiles in Abkhazia for the last two years," said the spokesman, PJ Crowley. "We can't confirm whether they have added to them or not."

Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister Temur Yakobashvili expressed anxiety over Russia's statement.

"This should be of concern not only for Georgia but also for other regional actors including Nato," he told the AFP news agency.
"It is very obvious that Russia is using these occupied territories as a military platform for larger plans than only Georgia".