RUSSIAN PM PAID VISIT TO ABKHAZIA
Panorama.am
11:45 13/08/2009
On his first postwar visit to Abkhazia, Prime Minister Vladimir
V. Putin pledged at least 15 billion rubles to build a Russian military
base and reinforce the boundary that divides Abkhazia from the rest
of Georgia.
During the visit, Mr. Putin said Russia would continue to pay Abkhaz
pensions, provide the capital to revive the Abkhaz economy and lend
military support, if necessary.
During his visit, Mr. Putin outlined how deeply Abkhazia’s future
was tied to Russia. He said Russia supplied 2.5 billion rubles,
or about $80 million, in direct budgetary assistance this year and,
despite the financial crisis, would offer a slightly smaller amount
next year. He told opposition leaders that 11 billion rubles, or
$340 million, would be allotted from Russia’s federal budget for
infrastructure projects and social support.