Russia Denies Dispatching Troops in Kodori

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 12, 2002) – Russian Defense Ministry denied Georgian reports that up to 100 Russian soldiers and Abkhaz fighters entered Georgian controlled upper Kodori gorge, breakaway Abkhazia.

Russia also denied that the Georgian helicopter was fired by the Russian soldiers in Kodori. “This is absolutely untrue,” aide of Commander of the Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia Alexander Tretiakov told the Interfax news agency today.

Georgian President’s Representative in Kodori Gorge Emzar Kvitsiani told the reporters today that the Georgian helicopter with the passengers on board was fired Kodori on August 12. No fatalities reported.

Russian media sources report today quoting Foreign Minister of unrecognized Abkhazian Republic Sergei Shamba that the Abkhaz armed units opened fire to Georgian helicopter. He said that it was a warning. He denied that the Abkhaz fighters infiltrated Georgian controlled Kodori gorge.