Russia plans to move naval ships toward Abkhazia: US
Published: 8/9/2008
WASHINGTON - Russia is planning to move parts of its Black Sea fleet towards Georgia's rebel Abkhazia region, a US State Department official said Saturday.
"We have been notified that Russia has plans to move elements of its Black Sea fleet to Abkhazia, to Ochamchira, ostensibly to protect their civilians ... a couple of cruisers, or large scale naval vessels," said the official, asking to remaining anonymous.
Russia may well use what has happened as an excuse to try and annex all Abkhazia or possibly all of Georgia. We should exert all of the diplomatic pressure that we can to prevent that from happening. However, I can understand Russian anger about having several of its troops attacked and killed by the Georgians right after Russia had negotiated a cease fire between the Secessionists and the Georgians.