Russia beefs up Abkhazia forces

Russia has warned, April 2008, it will retaliate if Georgia uses force against its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These feature explains the background to the conflict between the two countries.

On the 1 May 2008 Russia deployed troops to the Georgian separatist zone of Abkhazia, despite Georgia's objections and concern in NATO. Georgian officials said the move is the start of military aggression against Tbilisi.

Deutsche Welle, 2.5.08: Abkhazia Welcomes Russian Troops as Georgia Tensions Escalate http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3305798,00.html

Russia Today, 2.5.08: Russian peacekeepers increase presence in Abkhazia http://rt.com/news/

BBC News, 4.5.08: Rebels 'hit two Georgian drones' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7382969.stm

Russia Today, 4.5.08: Abkhazia claims two more Georgian spy planes shot down http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/24292

Euro/Topics, 2.5.08: Russia mounts pressure on Georgia http://archiv.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/calender/NEWSLETTER-2008-05-02-Russia-mounts-pressure-on-Georgia

BBC News, 30.4.08: Analysis: Georgia's separatism woes http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7375526.stm

BBC News, 30.4.08: Q&A: Russian-Georgian ties http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5393106.stm

Deutsche Welle, 1.5.08: Russia Begins Sending Troops to Georgian Republic http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3303763,00.html

Russia Today, 1.5.08: Moscow dismisses talk of war with Georgia http://rt.com/news/

ESO: Background information http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-heats-up-frozen-conflict/

---