(RFE/RL)
19 December 2005 -- The deputy commander of Russia's peacekeeping forces was denied entry into Georgia en route to the breakaway republic of Abkhazia.
A peacekeeping spokesman in the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict zone said Lieutenant General Valerii Yevnevich was planning to travel to the Abkhaz capital Sukhumi through western Georgia on 17 December when he was turned back at a checkpoint.
The spokesman said Yevnevich was then forced to travel via Russia and was due to reach Sukhumi yesterday. Yevnevich was reportedly carrying a visa and the reason for his denied entry was not clear.
Russia provides official peacekeeping in the Abkhaz-Georgian region according to an agreement ending the 1992-93 Abkhaz war for independence.
Georgia accuses Russia of supporting the breakaway Black Sea region.
(AFP/Interfax)
The spokesman said Yevnevich was then forced to travel via Russia and was due to reach Sukhumi yesterday. Yevnevich was reportedly carrying a visa and the reason for his denied entry was not clear.
Russia provides official peacekeeping in the Abkhaz-Georgian region according to an agreement ending the 1992-93 Abkhaz war for independence.
Georgia accuses Russia of supporting the breakaway Black Sea region.
(AFP/Interfax)