U.N.: Russian Jet Shot Down Georgian Drone

Moscow Had Denied Shooting Down Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft Over Abkhazia Last Month

(AP)  The United Nations observer mission in Georgia on Monday concluded that the plane that shot down an unmanned Georgian reconnaissance aircraft last month belonged to the Russian military.

Russia denied the claim and the report is likely to aggravate already fraught relations between the two countries. Tensions have been high for months over Russia's support for the Georgian separatist province of Abkhazia - where the aircraft was shot down - and Georgia's drive to join NATO.

The observers' report said both sides had violated an Abkhazia cease-fire agreement - Russia by shooting down the drone and Georgia by flying it over Abkhazia.

The reconnaissance drone was shot down over the separatist province on April 20. A video taken by the pilotless aircraft shows a fighter jet firing a missile in its direction.

Abkhazia's separatist government claimed the drone was shot down by one of its L-39 jets. However, the plane in the video had a distinctive twin-finned tail, and the report concluded it was either a Russian-made MiG-29 or Su-27 - neither of which Abkhazia possesses.

The report of the U.N. Observer Mission in Georgia said radar tracking shows that after the missile was fired, the plane headed into Russian airspace.

"Absent compelling evidence, this leads to the conclusion that the aircraft belonged to the Russian air force," the report said.

But Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky said "there cannot be any talk of any kind of violation of the state border of Georgia or of the shooting down of an unpiloted flying apparatus," according to the RIA-Novosti news agency.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Monday that "Georgia for the first time has confirmation from the U.N. that Russia has committed an act of aggression against Georgia," the Interfax news agency reported.

"All of this demands a tough reaction by the international community," he was quoted as saying.

Georgia has long accused Russia of aiming to annex Abkhazia and another separatist region, South Ossetia. Both have been outside the Georgian government's control since the end of fighting in the mid-1990s.

Russia does not formally recognize either regions' separatist governments, but it maintains close contacts with them and has granted passports to most of the regions' residents. Russia also has peacekeeping forces in both regions; Georgia accuses the forces of supporting the separatists.

Last month, Russia called for upgrading ties with Abkhazia, a move that outraged Georgia. Russia, meanwhile, accuses Georgia of marshaling forces on the outskirts of Abkhazia with the aim of reasserting control by force.

In response to that, Russia increased its peacekeeping force in Abkhazia, saying it needs to protect Russian citizens.

Abkhazia claims to have shot down seven Georgian drones this year. Georgia has denied all the claims except for the April 20 incident, which it also initially denied.

However, the observer report said wreckage from at least two other incidents was confirmed to be that of Hermes 450 drones such as those used by Georgia.

[apprxam]

I see what side you''re from, AVSuvorov. I agree with you on most of the factual and historical, except with the personal. Georgia, Ukrania and Chechnia tooks the steps that any "free" nation would''ve. They wanted to get away from the Soviet past, no matter how helpful back then and gain entry into the E.U. Russia would''ve joined had the United State not shoved capitalism down their throats.

No friend, I smoke nothing, so read what I wrote and then get back to me. I''ve only postulated as to what I think might happen, you''ve still dealing with history and not the present. Georgia, right or wrong wants the "western" life-style in-spite of the glorious help Russian gave protecting them from the "Asian-hoard".

False revolution aside, Ukraine chose to distant themselve from the former and move toward the new. This is an idea issue, not history.

[apprxam]

There''s no missile "defense" system, ask Reagan. These are offensive-postured weapons pointed squarely at Russia.

[moonshadow22]

Are you people really that dumb?? Powerful countries exert their muscle by gaining influence in less powerful countries. That allows them a better "bargaining chip" when trying to influence even more countries. In this case Russia is trying to influence people in an area now controlled by Georgia. Georgia doesn''t want to give the territory up to Russian control. Now a skirmish has happened. Big deal? No!

This isn''t new. It''s happened for centuries. Get down off of your high horse, and let them figure it out for themselves. If we stick our noses into it, they''ll both be mad at us because it''s none of our business. I a dispute like this a real friend would just keep others from trying to swing the balance.

[apprxam]

I say this not because America is weak, because we aren''t. The powerful in this country don''t care about any of us and nothing but their profits.

[apprxam]

Ossetia. Remember that name Americans because Russia is smelling its'' **** and want to prove to the world, and the U.S. that they run Western Asia, no matter it''s form or allies. The United States is being prodded in the eye by the Russians with the Ukraine, Georgia as well as Iran.

When the Chechnian "terrorist" were effectively neutralized, with the U.S.''s blessing, and Bush''s assine missile "defense" posture with Poland, once again and the Czech Republic as the front, Putin was inevitably headed towards pushing back. This is their "Monroe Doctrine" and with Afghanistan and the fall of the Soviet Union behind them, the bombing of Serbia and the failure of "Capitalism" fresh in their memory, Russia, with the help of oil-money is going to flex its muscle, one way or another. Unlucky for Georgia, the line begins in Ossetia.

The warm-weather resort area is goiong to become the fulcrum of a new Russification of their former sphere and the United States isn''t going to do anything about it. Britain can''t do what they used to do in the late 19th Century and the balance of power is going to shift again.

China, post-Olympics and because of American interferance in Taiwan, will ally themselves with Russia and still sell us ping-pong balls, TV''s and pharmceuticals with anti-freeze in them and there ain''t a *** thing gonna be done about it.

[glidescube]

Russia is unhappy with Georgia choice to join NATO? Who the hell are they to dictate friendships to anyone. Putin, your mighty USSR collapsed because your commie *** don''t work...get over it!!!

[trishab4]

How many troops will be killed when Russia will destroy the missiles our Idiot in CHief Liar935Bush has decided to install at its western territorial limits with EasternEurope?

[cdfoxtrot]

Wasn''''t aware Russia still had planes or anything else.

Posted by Edward1975

Are you for real???? Been watchin'' Faux News too much???

[cdfoxtrot]

Yeah, let''''s commit an act of war against a nuclear armed power. Contrary to what some people think, Russia can still lay waste to our continent.


Posted by Rafterman1

Exactly. "Eye-Ran" is no threat to the US, unlike the past and present Russia. Senator Obama is totally correct in this regard.

We''re seeing recurring incidents where former Soviet satellite states are doing things to provoke Russia, and it seems to me that we''d be better off NOT inviting these countries into NATO or the EU. They''re too much trouble and we don''t need a new Cold War.

[pvperson]

"observers'' report said BOTH sides had violated an Abkhazia cease-fire agreement - Russia by shooting down the drone and Georgia by flying it over Abkhazia"

Maybe we should mind our on business for a change.

[republic1776]

Why is CBS reporting this?
This was on Drudge Report OVER a month ago!

[rushlimpdrug]

From watchin the latest "Indie" movie, these
russians are a very dangerous group.

Thank God they didn''t get ahold of the
crystal skull.

[ajaxtheleast]

I see all pilots of drones as being named

Wilbur, about 125 pounds, horn-rimmed

glasses, adams apple out to here,

naturally a lisp, afraid of women,

frieghtened to death of Hillary . .

(yes, even drone pilots in in other

countries fear hillary as much as

American repubs and Obama people)

These "BRAVE" drone pilots named

Wilbur all laugh half through

their nose, half through their

mouth, . .scoring a kill they

immediatly change joy sticks

and are unavailable for

duty for about five minutes.

Their nasal laugh and erotic

behavior as he surveys the mini

bus carnage drives all others

out of the operations room.

Russia''s error was in first not

SHOUTING . ."W M D ! . .W M D!"

[kommandbunke]

Deutschland Uber Alles!!

[rafterman1]

===We should "help" them.===
Posted by xmissile

Yeah, let''s commit an act of war against a nuclear armed power. Contrary to what some people think, Russia can still lay waste to our continent.

[xmissile]

Georgia needs to retrofit the 450 to carry a small heat seeker, bait the Russians, and shoot down a Mig. This would provide irrefutable evidence of direct Russian involvement. We should "help" them.

[edward1975-2009]

Wasn''t aware Russia still had planes or anything else.