EU steps up Georgia patrols before war report, but says region looks quietSeptember 30th, 2009 EU steps up Georgia patrols before war reportMOSCOW — On the eve of a European Union report on who started the Russia-Georgia war, EU monitors have stepped up their patrols in Georgia to try to keep tensions from boiling over into violence, an official said Tuesday. The August 2008 war ended with Russian soldiers driving Georgian forces out of the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russia warns of violence if Georgia stops Abkhazia-bound ships in Black SeaSeptember 3rd, 2009 Russia warns Georgia against Abkhaz 'sea blockade'MOSCOW — A Russian official has warned Georgia that attempts to block ships from reaching a Moscow-aligned separatist region of Georgia could end in military intervention. Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko did not make any specific threats in televised comments Thursday but said that "attempts to install a sea blockade" on Abkhazia "could lead to a serious armed incident."
Separatist authorities say Georgia has halted 23 ships in Black Sea waters near Abkhazia this year.
Putin pledges $470 mln to build Russian bases, boost security in AbkhaziaAugust 12th, 2009 Putin pedges massive military spending in AbkhaziaMOSCOW — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says the country will spend at least 15 billion rubles ($470 million) next year to build Russian military bases in Abkhazia and tighten the separatist Georgian region's borders. Putin's pledge in an interview with Abkhazian media comes on Wednesday's anniversary of the cease-fire in last year's war with Georgia in which Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke from Georgian control.
South Ossetia claims mortar shells fired from Georgia; Tbilisi deniesAugust 1st, 2009 South Ossetia claims Georgian mortar attackTBILISI, Georgia — Authorities in the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia said Saturday that two mortar shells had fired into the territory from Georgia proper, and Russia quickly warned that it might retaliate. Georgia denied the claim and accused Russia and South Ossetia of provocation before the first anniversary of Georgia's short but fierce war with Russia last summer.
Western observers begin pulling out of Georgia; fears of new war growJune 30th, 2009 Western observers pulling out of AbkhaziaTBILISI, Georgia — Western observers pulled out of Georgia on Tuesday after Russia blocked an extension of the mission to observe the cease-fire that ended last year's war. The pullout of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission came as tensions between Georgia and Russia remain high.
Georgia: Blast near EU vehicle kills 1 outside Abkhazia, doctor injuredJune 21st, 2009 Georgia: Blast near EU vehicle kills 1TBILISI, Georgia — A land mine explosion killed the driver of a Georgian medical aid vehicle that was accompanying European Union monitors patrolling a tense area Sunday near breakaway Abkhazia, police and EU officials said. A doctor from a Georgian medical aid group was injured in the roadside blast, Interior Ministry spokesman Zurab Gvenetadze said.
Georgia, South Ossetia report exchange of gunfire along tense administrative borderApril 23rd, 2009 Gunfire exchanged on Georgia-South Ossetia borderTBILISI, Georgia — Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia have reported gunfire exchanges along their tense administrative border. No casualties have been reported.
Russia to deploy 3,800 troops in AbkhaziaMarch 7th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia will have 3,800 troops deployed in Abkhazia for the next 49 years, Sergei Bagapsh, the president of the breakaway republic of Georgia, said Friday. Russia recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states Aug 26, 2008, two weeks after the end of a five-day war with Georgia.
Russia hails extention of Georgia observer missionFebruary 13th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia Saturday welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution on extending a mandate of a UN observer mission in Georgia and Abkhazia, saying it would help ensure stability in the region. The UN Security Council Friday unanimously passed Resolution 1866 to extend by another four months a mandate for its observer mission in Georgia and its former region of Abkhazia, which is recognised as an independent state by Russia.
OSCE extends mandate of Georgia monitorsFebruary 11th, 2009 VIENNA - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) extended Thursday a mandate for its unarmed military observers in Georgia, the organisation said. The 56-nation organisation moved to keep 20 monitors in areas adjacent to the disputed region of South Ossetia until June 30.
US regrets Russia's plan of setting up bases in Abkhazia, South OssetiaFebruary 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US has expressed regret for Russia's plan to establish military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, urging the Kremlin to respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 'The US regrets the Russian Federation's expressed intention to establish bases in the territory of Georgia,' US State Department said Friday in a statement, adding that the plan 'without the consent of the Georgian government would clearly violate that commitment'.
Moscow worried by Georgian build-up near South Ossetia, AbkhaziaJanuary 22nd, 2009 MOSCOW - The Russian foreign ministry Friday said Georgia's expanding military presence on the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia continued to be a matter for grave concern. It said the Georgian military and the police presence called for 'special attention on the part of the UN and other international organisations operating in the region'.
Russia-South Ossetia friendship treaty comes into forceJanuary 19th, 2009 MOSCOW - A friendship and cooperation agreement between Russia and the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia has come into force, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday. Sergei Lavrov said Moscow and Tskhinvali would soon sign an array of agreements on cooperation in the military sphere, border protection and trade.
Moscow bans military, dual-purpose exports to GeorgiaJanuary 18th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree banning exports of military and dual-purpose products to Georgia, the Kremlin press service said Monday. Under the document, valid until Dec 1, 2011, the government is to develop ways to restrict military cooperation with countries supplying Russian or Soviet-made arms to Georgia.
Georgia, US to sign strategic pact on Jan 4December 24th, 2008 TBILISI - The US and Georgia would sign a strategic partnership agreement in Washington Jan 4, Georgia's foreign minister said Thursday. 'I am 99 percent sure we will sign the document on January 4,' Grigol Vashadze said at a briefing, adding that the text of the agreement was being finalized.
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