Georgia: “Russia’s military drills pose significant regional threat”
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Georgia is condemning the mass military drills initiated by Russia in the north Caucasus, in Crimea, in military bases in Armenia and in Georgia’s occupied regions and say the exercises are provocative and a "threat that has the potential to destabilize the region”.
Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke out after Russia initiated military drills in the region.
Georgia has been keeping a close eye on every Russian military exercise in the region,” said Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.
More than 11,000 personnel are taking part in the Russian-initiated military maneuvers in 18 'polygons', located in the north Caucasus, Crimea, as well as military bases in Armenia and in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
We have witnessed some unplanned drills. We view them as a direct threat and a destabilising factor for the region,” said Janelidze.
We keep informing our partners of the developments in detail, in order to consider all possible scenarios and ensure that the international community is duly informed about the impending threat,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered snap military drills Thursday to "test the combat-readiness of troops on the country’s western flank”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is calling on the international community to adequately assess Russia’s military trainings on Georgia breakaway territory of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia. More than 2,000 troops are currently participating in military trainings on Georgia’s two occupied territories.
The President of Georgia is appealing to the international community to adequately respond to Russia's military exercises in Georgia's breakaway regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), launched two days ago.
"Georgia is an independent and sovereign state, which has the right to hold any kind of training on its territory,” Georgia’s Foreign Ministry says.
Russia is dissatisfied that Georgia and the United States (US) are getting ready to conduct joint military exercises in Georgia.
The Russian 58th army is conducting drills in Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, with the involvement of local "operative groups and divisions”, Russian and Tskhinvali media reports.
Russia’s 4th Infantry Brigade is conducting military drills in Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
The exercises are being conducted in Volgograd, Rostov, Stavropol, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Ossetia, Crimea, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Armenia.