Russian air force denies Russian plane shot down in Georgia

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11844980 ^ | Aug 24 2007 10:36PM

[BenLurkin]

MOSCOW. Aug 24 (Interfax) - The Russian air force branded as "one more provocative piece of information" a Georgian media report that a Russian warplane was shot down on Friday over the Kodori Gorge in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region.

"It is one more provocative piece of information directed against us," air force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky told Interfax.

"I state once again that no aircraft of the air force of the Russian Federation has violated the border with Georgia. All air force aircraft are currently on airfields, and the pilots are having a rest," he said.

"If one analyzes all Georgian statements about air space invasions, all of them are launched at night, strange as it is," Drobyshevsky added.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

ping for future. (when there are comments).

[blam]

BBC:

Georgia fires at 'Russian plane'

Georgian forces have fired at an aircraft they believed to be Russian after it violated Georgian airspace, a senior government official said.

Tbilisi could not confirm whether the plane was shot down, but said that a nearby section of forest was on fire.

Russia dismissed the claim, and an air force spokesman called it "the latest provocation aimed against us".

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been strained since a spy row last year.

Remote site

Georgian officials said Wednesday's incident was not reported earlier because they were still checking information.

The Russia defence ministry said Russian planes had not flown near the area on that day.

Georgian officials said the site where the plane may have crashed was in Georgian-controlled territory, but that it was remote and difficult to reach.

Upper Abkhazia is the Georgian authorities' term for the strategic Kodori gorge, which is the only part of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia over which Georgia retains partial control.

Under an agreement between the two, Georgian forces and heavy weaponry cannot be deployed in the area.

[hermgem]

People fall out of high rise windows, get shot in elevators, and poisoned in London, all anti Russians.
No violation of airspace says a Russian officer, pilots are sleeping and resting.
All’s so peaceful since Vladimir returned from admiring Russian/Chinese maneuvers.

[Oh Brother]

I’m sure Russia is going to help put out the fire and take away any fallen or burnt trees.

[Blackyce]

I’m sure any plane/pilot that actually gets shot down is automatically granted Abkhazian citizenship.

[U S Army EOD]

They are conducting air raid drills right now at Georgia Tech just in case.

[wolfcreek]

If true...way to go Georgia.

I’m already sick of Russia’s CW BS.

[Frank_2001]

Was it trying to buzz Fort Benning?

Oh, THAT Georgia. Sorry;)

[Does so]

The former Soviet Republic is pronounced “GRU-zhah”, according to Barry Farber.

[SwinneySwitch]

“All air force aircraft are currently on airfields, and the pilots are having a rest,”

LOL!

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

[gondramB]

Lord, please don’t put us in a situation where we have to defend Georgia against Russia.

[Fitzcarraldo]

“All air force aircraft are currently on airfields, and the pilots are having a rest,”

Sounds like the jet fuel tankers were hijacked on the road to the base again. Pesky bandits!