Replies to post #2021 on Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

ABKHAZIA * CRISIS * RUSSIA * PEACEKEEPERS * REDEPLOYMENT *

IS RUSSIAN MILITARY INTERVENTION IN ABKHAZIA POSSIBLE?

2004-11-15 12:54
MOSCOW, Nov 15 (RIA Novosti) - On November 13, a representative from the Georgian State Security Ministry reported that the Russian authorities had started a redeployment of part of the Russian peacekeeping contingent from the Gali district to Sukhumi (the capital of self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia on the territory of Georgia). The contingent's armored vehicles headed towards Sukhumi in a dispersed formation, rather than in a column, in an apparent bid to avoid unnecessary attention. Russian peacekeepers said two armored personnel carriers had been redeployed to provide security for a sanatorium in Sukhumi.

Irakly Aladashvili, a military expert, told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that, according to some sources, Russian peacekeepers had blocked all access routes to Sukhumi. "The situation is exacerbated by the fact that local residents have a large number of weapons, and a crisis might break out at any moment."

Colonel Anatoly Tsyganok, the head of the Center for Military Assessment attached to the Institute for Political and Military Analysis, believes, "information about the redeployment of Russian troops closer to the border with Georgia was leaked to prevent any negative development of events between the two presidential candidates in Abkhazia."

At the same time, he is not ruling out the possibility of Russian troops being redeployed in Abkhazia. In his opinion, if a decision is made to send in troops, they will move along the Black Sea coast. Mr. Tsyganok believes that one of the four Interior Ministry divisions located on the territory of the North Caucasus Military District may be deployed.

Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed republic stands on the brink of civil war. After the seizure of several government buildings by supporters of presidential candidate Sergei Bagapsh, the authorities labeled their actions an attempted coup d'etat and ordered troops to stay on full combat alert.

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5087497&startrow=1&date=2004-11-15&am...