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| Russians to boost Abkhazia bases | Russians to boost Abkhazia bases |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Russia is to spend almost $500m (£300m) next year reinforcing its military bases in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, the prime minister says. | Russia is to spend almost $500m (£300m) next year reinforcing its military bases in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, the prime minister says. |
| Vladimir Putin's announcement came as he visited the region for talks. | Vladimir Putin's announcement came as he visited the region for talks. |
| He said Russia was committed to defending and financing the small strip of land in Georgia's north-west corner. | He said Russia was committed to defending and financing the small strip of land in Georgia's north-west corner. |
| Georgia reacted angrily to the visit, calling it "yet another provocation" and an attempt to "escalate tensions in the Caucasus region". | Georgia reacted angrily to the visit, calling it "yet another provocation" and an attempt to "escalate tensions in the Caucasus region". |
| The UK also condemned Mr Putin's announcement, saying it ran contrary to wider international efforts to support a negotiated solution in the region. | |
| Moscow officially recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia following the war a year ago between Russia and Georgia. | Moscow officially recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia following the war a year ago between Russia and Georgia. |
| The only other country recognising the regions' independence is Nicaragua; both areas are still widely considered to be part of Georgia. | The only other country recognising the regions' independence is Nicaragua; both areas are still widely considered to be part of Georgia. |
| Russian citizenship | Russian citizenship |
| The BBC's Richard Galpin, in the region's main city, Sukhumi, says Mr Putin arrived to a hero's welcome from relatives of those killed in the 1992-1993 war between Abkhaz separatists and the Georgian government. | The BBC's Richard Galpin, in the region's main city, Sukhumi, says Mr Putin arrived to a hero's welcome from relatives of those killed in the 1992-1993 war between Abkhaz separatists and the Georgian government. |
| ABOUT ABKHAZIA Declared independence from Georgia in 1999, but Tbilisi continues to regard it as a breakaway regionOnly Moscow and Nicaragua recognise Abkhazia's declared independence from GeorgiaPopulation approximately 250,000 in 2003Major languages: Russian, Georgian, Abkhaz Q&A: Conflict in Georgia | ABOUT ABKHAZIA Declared independence from Georgia in 1999, but Tbilisi continues to regard it as a breakaway regionOnly Moscow and Nicaragua recognise Abkhazia's declared independence from GeorgiaPopulation approximately 250,000 in 2003Major languages: Russian, Georgian, Abkhaz Q&A: Conflict in Georgia |
| Some called him a guardian angel and thanked him for last year's intervention against Georgia, our correspondent reports. | Some called him a guardian angel and thanked him for last year's intervention against Georgia, our correspondent reports. |
| Mr Putin began his visit by laying a wreath at a memorial to those who died in the first war, then visited a hospital with Abkhazia's separatist leader Sergei Bagapsh, AFP news agency said. | Mr Putin began his visit by laying a wreath at a memorial to those who died in the first war, then visited a hospital with Abkhazia's separatist leader Sergei Bagapsh, AFP news agency said. |
| Speaking ahead of the trip, Mr Putin said Russia would deploy more forces in Abkhazia and build a "modern border-guard system" to guarantee the security of the two breakaway regions. | Speaking ahead of the trip, Mr Putin said Russia would deploy more forces in Abkhazia and build a "modern border-guard system" to guarantee the security of the two breakaway regions. |
| "All this will cost about 15-16bn rubles [$463m; £280m]," he said. | "All this will cost about 15-16bn rubles [$463m; £280m]," he said. |
| The bulk of the money will be spent on military bases and strengthening the border between Abkhazia and Georgia, our correspondent says. | The bulk of the money will be spent on military bases and strengthening the border between Abkhazia and Georgia, our correspondent says. |
| The Abkhaz government wants Moscow to build a big navy base south of Sukhumi, which could ultimately provide an alternative home for the Russian Black Sea fleet currently based in Ukraine, a senior Abkhaz official told the BBC. | The Abkhaz government wants Moscow to build a big navy base south of Sukhumi, which could ultimately provide an alternative home for the Russian Black Sea fleet currently based in Ukraine, a senior Abkhaz official told the BBC. |
| Mr Putin also said Moscow was already helping finance the region's overall budget and was paying people's pensions. | Mr Putin also said Moscow was already helping finance the region's overall budget and was paying people's pensions. |
| Russian troops have been in Georgia's breakaway regions since the conflict | Russian troops have been in Georgia's breakaway regions since the conflict |
| A large proportion of Abkhazia's population has already been given Russian citizenship. | A large proportion of Abkhazia's population has already been given Russian citizenship. |
| Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, speaking in Abkhazia, said Russia currently had a total of 3,636 military personnel in the region and "a bit less" in South Ossetia. | Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, speaking in Abkhazia, said Russia currently had a total of 3,636 military personnel in the region and "a bit less" in South Ossetia. |
| The build-up of Russia's military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia is regarded by Georgia as a clear violation of its sovereignty. | The build-up of Russia's military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia is regarded by Georgia as a clear violation of its sovereignty. |
| Last year's five-day conflict erupted on 7 August as Georgia tried to retake control of South Ossetia. | Last year's five-day conflict erupted on 7 August as Georgia tried to retake control of South Ossetia. |
| Russia quickly repelled the assault and pushed its forces deeper inside Georgia, before pulling back. | Russia quickly repelled the assault and pushed its forces deeper inside Georgia, before pulling back. |