I ran into an interesting piece of news recently. Abkhazia has signed the official agreement with Russia in terms of military basing in Abkhazia. The Russian base there will involve massive infrastructure additions in the form of housing, and vacation homes, as well as an expansion of the training facilities, and a modernization of the airbase at Guaduti. What's more significant is that there will be no rent paid for any of the land or facilities. Instead the cost will be paid in military-technical assistance, and the education of Abkhazian service members in Russian military schools. Additionally the Abkhazians insisted in joint training and joint basing and housing of their "national" armed forces with the Russian troops stationed there.
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While at first this might seem like a "so what", in reality this is a major step. This means that the Abkhazian armed forces are entering into a very high level of coordination, and cooperation with the Russian Army. They're essentially becoming a daughter structure of the Russian armed forces. Abkhazian armed forces are significantly larger then their South Ossetian counterparts, and initially South Ossetia actively petitioned for Russian annexation, while Abkhazia stressed a desire for independence in general rather then annexation. However this latest move is a very definitive sign of the times. The level of integration will turn them from a uniformed group of barely trained locals into a relatively capable military, with much better hardware.
Additionally, this will allow the Black Sea Fleet to expand the Naval base at Ochamchira, which will house an unspecified number of BSF vessels. In short, the situation seems to have stabilized along very unpleasant lines.
Íîâîñòè NEWSru.com :: Áàçà â Àáõàçèè óêðåïèò ×åðíîìîðñêèé ôëîò Ðîññèè
While at first this might seem like a "so what", in reality this is a major step. This means that the Abkhazian armed forces are entering into a very high level of coordination, and cooperation with the Russian Army. They're essentially becoming a daughter structure of the Russian armed forces. Abkhazian armed forces are significantly larger then their South Ossetian counterparts, and initially South Ossetia actively petitioned for Russian annexation, while Abkhazia stressed a desire for independence in general rather then annexation. However this latest move is a very definitive sign of the times. The level of integration will turn them from a uniformed group of barely trained locals into a relatively capable military, with much better hardware.
Additionally, this will allow the Black Sea Fleet to expand the Naval base at Ochamchira, which will house an unspecified number of BSF vessels. In short, the situation seems to have stabilized along very unpleasant lines.