ORAC
26th Aug 2007, 05:50
Independent: Georgians shootdown 'Russian' plane
A plane of uncertain origin went down over Abkhazia, an official of the separatist region said yesterday, a day after Georgian forces claim they fired on a plane believed to be Russian that had violated the country's airspace.
The Georgian claim further escalated tensions with Russia, which had soared earlier in the month when Georgia said a Russian bomber dropped a missile on a Georgian village (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2007/08/mil-070817-rianovosti05.htm). The missile did not explode. In both cases Russia vehemently denied that its planes had violated Georgian airspace.
In the latest claim, Georgia said it fired on Wednesday at a plane over Upper Abkhazia, a remote mountainous area adjacent to separatist-controlled Abkhazia.
Russia accused Georgia of wanting to ratchet up tensions over the status of South Ossetia, another region that is seeking independence or incorporation into Russia.
A plane of uncertain origin went down over Abkhazia, an official of the separatist region said yesterday, a day after Georgian forces claim they fired on a plane believed to be Russian that had violated the country's airspace.
The Georgian claim further escalated tensions with Russia, which had soared earlier in the month when Georgia said a Russian bomber dropped a missile on a Georgian village (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2007/08/mil-070817-rianovosti05.htm). The missile did not explode. In both cases Russia vehemently denied that its planes had violated Georgian airspace.
In the latest claim, Georgia said it fired on Wednesday at a plane over Upper Abkhazia, a remote mountainous area adjacent to separatist-controlled Abkhazia.
Russia accused Georgia of wanting to ratchet up tensions over the status of South Ossetia, another region that is seeking independence or incorporation into Russia.