Tbilisi, Georgia, Jan.16
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgian Defense Ministry won't confirm the flying of several Russian fighters over Tbilisi, the ministry said.
The editor of Arsenal magazine, a military expert Irakli Aladashvili told journalists on Jan.14 that Russian warplanes crossed Georgian airspace for the first time since 2008, and these aircraft will return on the same route on Jan.20.
Georgia's airspace was not open to Russian aviation, according to the Georgian Defense Ministry and this was confirmed by Georgian Air Navigation - an organization controlling the country's airspace.
"On this basis, the report about the flying of warplanes - the participants of "Russian Knights" airshow - over Georgia on Jan.10 is untrue," the Georgian Defense Ministry said.
The country's Defense Ministry emphasized that the information about that Russian warplanes crossing Georgian airspace on Jan.20 again is also untrue.
Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by C.N.