Abkhazian MoD: Georgia's weapons banned by Moscow Agreement found in Kodori

A battery (6 units) of D-30 howitzers that belonged to the Armed Forces of Georgia was found in the upper section of the Kodori Gorge by Abkhazian militaries, General-Major Harry Kupalba, Deputy Defence Minister of Abkhazia, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He said: "D-30 howitzers are classified as heavy arms, and the presence of them in the upper section of the Kodori Gorge is a roughest violation of the Moscow Agreement on ceasefire and separation of forces signed on May 14, 1994."

Mr Kupalba explained that the howitzers were detected near Budzgur village in the upper part of the Gorge, between Kuabchara and Azhara villages, at 657 meters above sea level. "The battery was aimed at the lower section of the Kodori Gorge, where two Russian peacekeeping posts Nos. 106 and 107, and one Abkhazian post, are located. The howitzers could easily liquidate the posts, as the maximum fire range is 15,350 meters," General has added.

According to the Deputy Minister, today Abkhazian militaries have de-mined a house in Azhara village, where huge stocks of ammunition to mortars were stored.

"This is another confirmation of the fact that the upper section of Kodori Gorge was a concentration not of Georgian policemen, but of armed forces, equipped with heavy arms," said Harry Kupalba. "We repeatedly told UN Mission's military observers about it, but they tried to persuade us all the time that they could not find any Georgian militaries and heavy weapons in the Gorge and saw only police forces there."