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Russian S-300s in Abkhazia

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Global Security Newswire - Russian Missile Defenses in South Ossetia, Georgia Claims. PrintShareEmailTwitterFacebookLinkedIn Georgia claimed yesterday that Russia had fielded its advanced S-300 antimissile system in the breakaway territory South Ossetia, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Aug. 12). Moscow dismissed Tbilisi's accusation. "There are no S-300 systems in South Ossetia," an unidentified Russian Defense Ministry source told Interfax. Russia has already deployed the advanced surface-to-air technology in another Georgian separatist region, Abkhazia. A senior military official said this month the move was intended to defend Abkhazia's airspace and to provide protection to the republic, though the Kremlin subsequently said the systems were actually installed two years ago. Georgia and Russia fought a brief war in summer 2008 after Tbilisi tried to re-exert control over South Ossetia. "Although Russia is not saying this, be sure that S-300s have already been deployed in" South Ossetia, Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said to the Imedi news channel.

Russia Moves Missiles Into Abkhazia. Russia deploys missiles in Abkhazia - Europe. Russia has placed an air defence missile system to in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, bringing almost immediate condemnation from the government in Tbilisi. In a statement on Wednesday, General Alexander Zelin, Russia's air force commander-in-chief, said: "We have deployed the S-300 system on the territory of Abkhazia.

"Its role will be anti-aircraft defence of the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia [another breakaway Georgian region], in co-operation with the air defence systems of the army. " Georgia warned that the introduction of the S-300 missiles was of concern not only to itself, but should also worry the Nato military alliance. "This should be of concern not only for Georgia but also for other regional actors, including Nato," Temur Yakobashvili, Georgia's deputy prime minister, said. "The Russian government is saying 'if you can do it, we can do it'," Yakobashvili said. 'Occupying country'

Russian Air Defenses Sent to Georgian Breakaway. Russian S-300s in Abkhazia.