Russian guards take up duties on Abkhaz, S. Ossetia borders

19:22 | 02/ 05/ 2009

ROSTOV-ON-DON, May 2 (RIA Novosti) – Russian border guards have started
their duties as part of a joint border-protection agreement concluded
between Russia and two former Georgian republics, a border service
spokesperson said on Saturday.

The border deals, which Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed with
the two republics at a ceremony in the Kremlin on Thursday, have been
condemned by NATO for being a "clear contravention" of a
French-brokered cease fire agreement.

"Border guard units…have started their duties on protecting the
borders in Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Sergei Livantsov said without
giving details of how many personnel were involved in the operations.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states
after a brief war with Georgia.

The border agreement comes at a time of heightened tensions between
Moscow and the military alliance, following planned NATO exercises in
Georgia due to start later in the week and the expulsion of two Russian
NATO envoys over spying claims.

The NATO exercises have been slammed by Russia despite reassurances
that they will not involve light or heavy weaponry. Some 19 NATO
countries and 1,300 troops are expected to participate, although
Serbia, Moldova and Kazakhstan have withdrawn.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said earlier, "NATO’s plans to hold
exercises in Georgia…are an open provocation. Exercises must not be
held there where a war has been fought," and warned that the exercises
could have negative consequences for those who made the decision to
hold them.

NATO announced the expulsion of the two Russian diplomats, one of whom
is the son of Russia’s EU envoy Vladimir Chizhov, on Thursday. The move
follows a spy scandal involving an Estonian official, Herman Simm, who
was jailed for 12 years for handing over secret documents to Russian
intelligence operatives.

Russia’s foreign ministry called the move "scandalous" and added
"Naturally, we will draw our own conclusions about this provocation."

According to Nesterenko, the new borders agreements, "are designed to
strengthen security and stability in the region, and do not interfere
with the current search for acceptable formats of international
presence [in the region]."

Under the agreements, Russia will guard the Abkhaz and South Ossetian
borders, including maritime frontiers, until both republics form their
own border guard services. The agreements, for an initial five years,
can be renewed upon their expiration.