Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. Russian peacekeepers outpost.
Photo: Valery Melnikov
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Foreign Min. Condemns Abkhazian Incident
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called an incident on May 18 near the town of Zugdidi on the border with Abkhazia a “preplanned hostile action by the Georgian authorities” on its website Monday. In the incident it referred to, about 20 Georgian soldiers blocked the road before an armored vehicle carrying peacekeepers who were making a scheduled relocation of equipment. The Georgians used “crude physical force,” striking one peacekeeper in the head and taking two to the police station on accusations of causing a traffic accident.
Only after the intervention of the Collective Forces for the Support of Peace command and the UN observation mission were the Russian peacekeepers released. Aide to the commander of the peacekeeping forces Alexander Diordiev stated that the Georgians were informed in advance that the equipment would be moved and that the crashed car appeared only after the peacekeepers were stopped.
The Russian Foreign Ministry compared the Georgians’ actions to those of “true street bandits” and called their actions “the usual style” of Georgian provocations. It added that the Georgians’ actions would not force the peacekeepers to give up their “noble mission to support peace and security in the region.” It also warned that responsibility for the consequences of the incident lie with its organizers.
www.kommersant.com
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