18 February 2010, 20:00
Komoedov: deployment of united military bases in Abkhazia will strengthen Russian Black Sea Fleet
Due to placement of Russian united military bases in Abkhazia, the Black Sea Fleet of Russia will become less vulnerable. This is the opinion of Admiral Vladimir Komoedov, former Commander of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) and now Deputy of the State Duma. According to President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh, the issue of BSF transfer from Crimea to Abkhazia is not discussed, as Abkhazia has enough Russian troops to cope with Georgian threats.
Let us remind you that on February 17 in Moscow Presidents of Russia and Abkhazia Dmitri Medvedev and Sergey Bagapsh signed an agreement on setting up a Russian military base in Abkhazia, which officially fixes and regulates placement of Russian troops in the region.
"If we remember that the BSF it now mainly concentrated in Sevastopol; its base in Novorossisk is only under construction. It is an important geopolitical victory. Henceforth, the BSF will be more de-concentrated, thus, less vulnerable. Besides, we solve the problem of defending Abkhazia's sovereignty from the side of the sea," Admiral Vladimir Komoedov told the "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" in the context of the newly signed agreement.
Tbilisi is already worried with the problem. Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Paata Davitaya believes that actions of Russian ships at the coast of Abkhazia are illegal.
The fact that the issue of BSF transfer from Crimea to Abkhazia was not considered was reported today to the press conference in Moscow by President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh. He believes that the Russian BSF will remain in Sevastopol after 2017, when the respective Russia-Ukrainian agreement expires, the "Russian News Service" reports.
