Tbilisi, Georgia, Jan.20
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Alasania who stated that his ministry possesses all the necessary means to respond to any challenges, was commenting on a decree of the de-facto government of Georgia's breakaway region Abkhazia on a temporary transfer of borders.
"Our operational plans which are constantly being improved have been adapted to all the variants. The power and resources possessed by the Georgian Defence Ministry will be sufficient to respond to all challenges," Alasania said.
The de-facto government of breakaway Abkhazia has changed the bounds of the border zone in the Gagra region bordering the Adler district of the Krasnodar region for the period from Jan.20 to March 21, 2014.
In accordance with the decree, the border zone in the Gagra region has been set to a width of 11 kilometres inland of Abkhazia from the border between Abkhazia and the Russian Federation. That is to say from the River Psou to the settlement at Bagrypsh. This zone consists of eight settlements.
"Citizens entering the border zone in the specified period will need to have a passport," the Information Department under the president told ITAR-TASS. It was also specified that a combined stationary control post will function 11 kilometres along the republican Psou-Ingur road in Bagrypsh settlement where State Security Service officers, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State migration Service will hold a round -the -clock service.
Law enforcement agencies will also hold round-the clock patrolling of settlements included in the 11-kilometre border zone in order to identify persons violating the arrival system at the border area, ITAR-TASS reported.
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 unrecognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.