Abkhaz MFA refutes Russian Defence Min. claim on providing security for May 9 events

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has distributed information that officers of the Russian military base in Abkhazia will provide security in the republic at events dedicated to Victory Day (May 9) in the Second World War [ed. also known as the Great Patriotic War].

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Several dozen outraged posts appeared simultaneously on social media demanding that the Abkhaz authorities respond to this information.

“If we don’t take note of this today, then tomorrow nobody will ask us about anything at all…What are the grounds for the Russian police to maintain order in Abkhazia?”, one Facebook user wrote.

Statements were made by several public organizations as well.

“We regard this as a provocation and are waiting for the authorities to confirm or deny this information,” the Apskhara public movement said.

A few hours later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia issued a refutation.

“Rule of law during the May celebrations will fully ensured by the personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, which has all the necessary forces and means to take measures to ensure the safety of citizens and guests,” the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry said.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry did not mention the Russian Ministry of Defense at all, and urged journalists to “correctly handle information and not allow the dissemination of obviously unverified data.”

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