- Russia is planning a naval base in Abkhazia
- Abkhaz leader says agreement signed – Izvestia
- Georgia: The move represents a gross violation of its sovereignty
- WSJ: Russia has withdrawn most of its ships from Sevastopol
MOSCOW, Oct 5 (Portal) – Russia has signed a deal for a permanent naval base on the Black Sea coast of Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia, the Izvestia newspaper reported, sparking criticism from Georgia which called the move a “gross violation”. its sovereignty.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet, based in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, has been repeatedly attacked by Kiev’s forces since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
A day after meeting President Vladimir Putin, Aslan Bzhania, the self-proclaimed president of Russian-backed Abkhazia, said on Thursday that an agreement had been signed for a permanent naval base in the Ochamchira region.
“…in the near future there will be a permanent base of the Russian Navy in the Ochamchira district,” Bzhania told Izvestiya.
“All this is aimed at increasing the defense capability of both Russia and Abkhazia, and this type of interaction will continue,” he said. “There are also things I can’t talk about.”
When asked about the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred all questions to the Russian Defense Ministry. Abkhazian authorities did not respond to a request for comment.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and another breakaway region, South Ossetia, as independent states in 2008 after Russian troops repelled a Georgian attempt to recapture South Ossetia in a five-day war that ended on August 12, 2008.
“MAJOR INJURY”
The West accused Russia of effectively annexing Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and when rumors of a Russian base in Ochamchira emerged in 2009, the NATO military alliance expressed concern.
Three of the Black Sea states are NATO members: Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.
Most of the world recognizes Abkhazia as part of Georgia. In addition to Russia, only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have recognized Abkhazia as independent.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about “the inclusion of the indivisible Georgian region of Abkhazia in the integration processes initiated by Russia.”
Such actions constituted “a gross violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said.
News of the Russian base in Ochamchira, where the Soviet Union had a naval base, may indicate that Russia is looking for alternatives to Sevastopol while expanding its military presence along the Black Sea coast towards Turkey.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia had withdrawn most of its Black Sea fleet from its main base in annexed Crimea due to Ukrainian attacks.
The Kremlin also referred questions about the WSJ report to the Defense Department.
At his meeting with Bzhania on Wednesday, Putin did not comment on a naval base. However, Bzhania said he wanted to take part in “the integration processes initiated by the Russian side.”
Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge. Editing by Gareth Jones
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