Putin perplexed with Georgian flights over Abkhazia

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While talking on the phone with president of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili on April 21, president of Russia Vladimir Putin expressed bewilderment with the Georgian side's conducting military-related flights over the conflict zone in Abkhazia, REGNUM was informed at the Kremlin's press office.

“While discussing the incident with the Georgian unmanned plane, president of Russia conveyed bewilderment with the very fact of the Georgian side's performing military flights over the conflict zone, which contradicts the essense and spirit of Moscow agreements on ceasefire and separation of forces of May 14 1994, is a destabilizing factor, and is leading to augmentation of tensions,” the press office statement reads.

Abkhazian officials made a statement informing that on April 20, 2008, a Georgian unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was downed in airspace above the Gali region.

On April 21, Georgian officials confirmed the instance of termination of a Georgian interior ministry's drone, alleging that the incident took place in Western Georgia where the plane was on a planned flight and downed by a Russian MiG-29 jet fighter.

President of Georgia issued an extremely negative comment regarding the incident, describing it as an “unfriendly act” on behalf of Russia and “a totally unacceptable act from the point of view of international law.” He demanded from Vladimir Putin that Russia “immediatedly halt aggressive attacks on Georgia.”