Defense Minister: Georgia is constantly ready for battle

Georgia is always prepared and ready for combat as 20% of our territory is occupied, says Georgia’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania.

The country’s troops were always prepared. The main reason for this was because of Russia’s constant military presence in the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Alasania spoke out following the violation of Georgian controlled airspace by Russian military on March 6. 

"Georgian airspace has been violated up to one thousand times since [the Russia-Georgia war in] 2008 but the Georgian army is in control of the situation. We have prepared scenarios and are ready for every possible turn of events,” the Minister stated.

A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter entered Georgian controlled airspace from the territory of breakaway South Ossetia about midday yesterday. About six hours later, Georgian law-enforcers announced a Russian drone had entered Georgian airspace in the country’s Samegrelo region, in Western Georgia. 

Alasania said the flights created "no additional threat” to the current security situation around Georgia’s conflict zones. 

Earlier, the Georgian Foreign Ministry issued a protest note concerning the violation of Georgian controlled airspace. 

"The Ministry expresses concern over yet another instance of violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as of the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement, and calls on the international community, foreign diplomats accredited in Georgia and the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia to pay special attention to the situation along the occupation line in order to prevent Russia’s provocative actions and attempts to escalate the situation,” the statement reads.