Georgian police tried to seize Russian military base on Friday

RIA Novbosti, India Defence ^

[Dyaus Pitar]

Tbilisi: The Georgian military police tried to seize the Russian military base near the Black Sea port of Batumi Friday night, the commander of the Russian Group of Forces in the Caucasus said Saturday.

Major General Andrei Popov said 25 military policemen seized a number of facilities at the Gonio firing range, "which is jointly used by Russian and Georgian servicemen".

Popov said Georgian Lieutenant Colonel Gocha Ninindze, who commanded the group, said he was fulfilling an order.

The incident was settled after the Russian commanders and the Russian Embassy in Georgia discussed the situation with Georgian authorities, he said.

[Dyaus Pitar]

rofl

[Dyaus Pitar]

Complete article

[gondramB]

"rofl"

Why is this funny?

[Thunder90]

Georgia and Ukraine should kick the Russians out now.

[GarySpFc]

Interesting.

[familyop]

I agree with the sentiments, but now might not be a good time.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Ukraine is already neck deep in mafia dealings with the Putin clan.

That natural gas deal means billions can be skimmed back to Putins inner-circle buddies offshore bank accounts and a bunch of Ukrainians get a big cut as well.

[M. Espinola]

21 January 2006 -- The Georgian government is preparing a report on the activities of Russian peacekeepers in the breakaway republic of South Ossetia, Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Chechelashvili said on 21 January.

Chechelashvili believes all hopes of a positive assessment of Russia's role in South Ossetia have now disappeared.

Once completed, the report will be handed over to lawmakers for examination.

Several prominent members of the Georgian parliament on 20 January criticized Russia for using its peacekeeping mandate to exert pressure on Tbilisi.

In addition, Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said he had evidence "that Russian soldiers are involved in arms smuggling and terrorist acts."

The Georgian legislature is due to decide next month whether to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from South Ossetia.

Russian "peacekeepers" have been stationed in the region since it forcibly won de facto independence from Georgia in 1992.

(Novosti-Gruziya, Prime News)

ALMANAC FACTS Area: 69,700 sq km
Population: 4,693,892
Capital: Tbilisi 1,253,000
President: Mikhail Saakashvili
Religion: Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
Life Expectancy: 75.62 years
GDP per capita: $2,500

[Romanov]

This thing is going to "heat up" - the Mozdok to Tblisi gas line has mysteriously blown up and cut off Georgians from Russian natural gas....

Personally, I hate to see the Russia v. Ukraine, Russia v. Georgia, Russia v. Moldova issues. Plenty of guilt on each side to go around.

[GarySpFc]

That natural gas deal means billions can be skimmed back to Putins inner-circle buddies offshore bank accounts and a bunch of Ukrainians get a big cut as well.

That has to take the award as the most idiotic Free Republic post for this year. The Ukraine oligarchs are not connected to Moscow.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Of course they are. They all supported Yanukovych. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov supported Yanukovych along with Putin himself.

Ukrainian Billionaires May Be Behind Murky Gas Deal

[GarySpFc]

TG, you need to learn to read with discernment. Also look up and learn see how the words SPECULATION, ASSUMPTION, and PROPAGANDA are defined.

[spanalot]

"and a bunch of Ukrainians get a big cut as well. "

do you have a reference on this ?

[spanalot]

can you say "temnyky"?

[jb6]

Absolutely and Russia should stop the remaining gas subsidies to Georgia and block the monetary transfers of the 1 million Georgian immigrants who are now Russian citizens and ship money back to relatives, allowing the farce of an economy in Georgia to survive. I'm sure the EU will subsidize them.

[x5452]

Yeah! That and the former commies!