INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia's navy will establish a base on the coast of Georgia's separatist region of Abkhazia, its leader told state-run media Thursday, amid
point of deployment for the Russian navy in the Ochamchire district," the leader of separatist Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, told the newspaper
Izvestia.Bzhania, who is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, said the purpose of the deal was to "increase
interests of both Abkhazia and Russia
And security is above all," he added.Tbilisi said Thursday afternoon that it was "concerned" about the reported plans for a Russian naval
base in Abkhazia, calling the move a violation of its sovereignty."We express concern over the statement of Russia's occupation regime in
Sukhumi regarding the establishment of an additional Russian military base on Georgia's occupied territory," Georgia's Foreign Ministry
said.Russia has permanent military bases stationed in the breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which it recognized
