Russian deployment of S-300 in Abkhazia

Current week's popular topics and political debates regarding deployment of s-300 air defence systems in Abkhazia and "sincere" and "honest" intentions of Russia of implementing peace and safety in the region were under headlines of various popular newspapers, publishers and websites.

The S-300, code named "Favorite" in Russian, is a mobile, long-range air defence able to detect, track and destroy cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and high-and-low-flying aircraft.

According to Russian foreign ministry the deployment of S-300 air defence systems in Abkhazia does not contradict Russia's international obligations and S-300 deployment cannot destabilize the situation in the region. However, with this move, Russia is again flagrantly violating the August 2008 cease-fire agreement negotiated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The agreement calls upon both countries to withdraw troops to pre-war positions and restore the status quo antebellum. Yet Russia also has built up to five military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the past two years alone. Kremlin clearly does not feel bounded to any agreement. Russia neither cares much about international law. It probably should mean something to international community.

By deploying the missiles, Russia wants to be able to intercept Georgian, or indeed U.S. and NATO, flights over the nearby Black Sea area, Georgia's interior and the south Caucasus air corridor, the Jamestown Foundation, a U.S. think-tank, said in a research note.

Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister Temur Iakobashvili expressed anxiety over Russia's statement.

"This should be of concern not only for Georgia but also for other regional actors including Nato", he told the AFP news agency.

"It is very obvious that Russia is using these occupied territories as a military platform for larger plans than only Georgia".

However, it shows... not only that Russia does not intend to withdraw its troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia but that it is actually strengthening its military control over these territories.