Russia Stationed S-300 Missiles in Abkhazia in 2008 - Report

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and leader of selfproclaimed Republic of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh (L) lay flowers to a monument during their meeting in Sukhumi, Republic of Abkhazia in Western Georgia, 08 August 2010. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The stationing of Russian missiles complexes S-300 in the breakaway Georgian republic of Abkhazia has been a fact for 2 years, reports say.

According to an unnamed Kremlin source cited by Interfax, Russian placed the missiles in Abkhazia shortly after its Five-Day War with Georgia over South Ossetia led to the secession of the two former autonomous provinces of the Southern Caucasus state.

The news comes after a recent statement by Russian Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, commander of the Russian air force, indicated the presence of S-300 missiles on the territory of Abkhazia but did not specify when they were deployed there.

The Kremlin source has stated that Russia notified its partners of the deployment of the anti-aircraft rockets.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia that broke off from Georgia after August 2008 have become essentially client states of Russia, and have been recognized as independent states only by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru.

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