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Two Russian Tanks Detained in Georgia
MOSNEWS, Russia
July 16 2005
MosNews -- Georgia has detained two tanks from Russia's military base
in Batumi for holding maneuvers on the nearby target range without
prior notification, defense ministry officials were quoted by Georgian
media as saying.
"We have detained two tanks which had illegally left their location,
Russia's 12th base, and held training maneuvers on the Gonio range,
the fact of which maneuvers had been confirmed by the Russian base's
military chiefs," Georgian defense and foreign ministries reported.
"Even though Russia's tank divisions are not forbidden to hold
small-scale maneuvers in Gonio, the Georgian side must be informed
in advance of such," their statement reads, adding that Russians had
also violated the ban on shooting from heavy and light guns during
the tourist season.
However, the Russian base's representative Vladimir Kuparadze said he
was not aware of such accords, saying that "we had neither oral nor
written agreements on these issues, and we plan to call on Russian
command to adequately react to this illegal action by Georgian
military."
Moscow and Tbilisi agreed on May 30 the approximately 3,000 servicemen
on the two bases - one in Akhalkalaki, near the Georgian-Armenian
border, the other in Batumi, on the Black Sea coast - would be pulled
out from the region by the end of 2008.
MOSNEWS, Russia
July 16 2005
MosNews -- Georgia has detained two tanks from Russia's military base
in Batumi for holding maneuvers on the nearby target range without
prior notification, defense ministry officials were quoted by Georgian
media as saying.
"We have detained two tanks which had illegally left their location,
Russia's 12th base, and held training maneuvers on the Gonio range,
the fact of which maneuvers had been confirmed by the Russian base's
military chiefs," Georgian defense and foreign ministries reported.
"Even though Russia's tank divisions are not forbidden to hold
small-scale maneuvers in Gonio, the Georgian side must be informed
in advance of such," their statement reads, adding that Russians had
also violated the ban on shooting from heavy and light guns during
the tourist season.
However, the Russian base's representative Vladimir Kuparadze said he
was not aware of such accords, saying that "we had neither oral nor
written agreements on these issues, and we plan to call on Russian
command to adequately react to this illegal action by Georgian
military."
Moscow and Tbilisi agreed on May 30 the approximately 3,000 servicemen
on the two bases - one in Akhalkalaki, near the Georgian-Armenian
border, the other in Batumi, on the Black Sea coast - would be pulled
out from the region by the end of 2008.