DUSHANBE
, July 15, Asia-Plus –
Georgia
plans to increase the strength of its armed forces by 5,000 personnel to 37,000 amid growing tensions with
Russia
over two breakaway provinces, a senior lawmaker said Monday.
Nikolaz Rurua, deputy head of the parliamentary defense committee, said the move was “necessitated by the real threats facing the country.”
Relations between
Russia
and
Georgia
have plunged to a new low against the backdrop of outbreaks of violence in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia
, with the two countries trading accusations of provoking violence.
Last week, Russian military aircraft flew over
South Ossetia
.
Moscow
said it wanted to monitor the situation due to fears that
Georgia
would invade the internationally unrecognized but de facto independent republic.
Tbilisi
called the flights an act of “military aggression” against
Georgia
and recalled its ambassador from
Moscow
.
Earlier,
Russia
sent additional peacekeeping troops into Abkhazia.
“The increase of the Armed Forces” strength will raise their defense capabilities, and this decision is in line with international and NATO standards,” Rurua said.
