Georgian experts comment on Russia's decision to place missiles in the former autonomy.
A statement by Russian officials on the deployment of S-300 missile systems in Abkhazia caused a widex resonancex in Georgia. In an interview to “Vestnik Kavkaza” the editor of the independent military analysis magazine “Arsenal”, Irakli Aladashvili, and the Georgian State Minister for the Occupied Territories and Reintegration, Timur Yakobashvili, commented on the event.
Irakli Aladashvili: It is absolutely clear that the S-300 anti-aircraft systems have become not so much a military, but a political instrument. It is enough to recall the attempts of Russia to sell the system to Iran and the information about the fact that Baku wants to obtain it from Moscow. And now the deployment of the S-300 in Abkhazia has been officially confirmed.
Frankly speaking, there is nothing new in it to me personally. Our magazine has a photograph from last year showing the discarding of components of the system at a railway station in Sukhumi. The Russian side was importing various anti-aircraft missile systems into South Ossetia and Abkhazia up to August 2008. Even during the Abkhazian war, in 1992-1993, “Buk” and “Osa” systems appeared near Escher and Gudauta. They were already being used by Russian forces against our aircraft and helicopters. However, at that time Moscow categorically refused to admit their origins. In 2008, before the events of August 2008, Georgian unmanned reconnaissance planes were shot down by the anti-aircraft missile system “Buk” while flying over Abkhazia. After August 2008, Russia has been explicitly saying that it has established the S-300 system in Abkhazia. I do not exclude the appearance of the S-300 in the Tskhinvali region (in South Ossetia – note by“Vestnik Kavkaza”). In this case, Moscow would have complete control over the sky above Tbilisi, as well as over Marneuli, where the main Georgian military air base is located. It should be remembered that the S-300 system has been operating for almost 10 years in Armenia, in particular, at the Russian military base in Gyumri. The simultaneous operation of the S-300 in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Armenia means that Russia will have full control over the airspace of the South Caucasus.
In Soviet times, the South Caucasus was on the border line of the Warsaw Pact and NATO, while Turkey was a member of NATO and the "southern route" was very well covered by the armed forces of the USSR. Air defense forces worked there at that time, as well as the air defense ground forces. So it was a very strong, layered defense system. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this system only remained in Armenia. It stopped operating in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Russia has traditionally been concerned about rocket attacks from the South and, in this case, the Caucasus Mountains play a “brilliant role.” So, for example, if cruise missiles fly toward Russia from the South, it would be difficult for the Russian air defense to detect them on time because of the Caucasus Mountains. It would be different if the air defenses were located to the south of the ridge. Then the Russian military would have more time to locate them and bring them down.
So, the location of the systems in Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be directed not only against Georgia, but also against NATO, Turkey first of all. After all, the S-300 has a detection system which operates at 300 kilometres, while the anti-aircraft missiles can reach targets at a distance of 150-200 kilometres.
VK: Does the location of the S-300 missiles in Abkhazia violate the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe?
In 2007 Russia already suspended its participation in the treaty. In addition, we must bear in mind that the above agreement does not apply to air defense systems. It applies to offensive weapons. And anti- aircraft systems, such as the S-300, are considered a defensive weapon. Although for me, as a military expert, it is not clear how a system with a range of 150-200 kilometers can be considered defensive.
In addition, the S-300 may “work” well on land or sea targets. That is, its missiles can not only shoot down a plane, but, for example, sink a ship or destroy a building, a structure. So, given the geographical realities and the extent of the South Caucasus, the S-300 is more an offensive than a defensive weapon.
Timur Yakobashvili: I will start with the political side of what has happened. The actions of Russia in placing the S-300 in Abkhazia are a direct violation of the treaty from the 12th of August 2008, signed by Sarkozy and Medvedev. Russia is clearly trying to change the balance of forces in the region. In addition, it shows not so much that Moscow is actually concerned about the fate of the Abkhazians and Ossetians,
but that it needs these areas for its military strategic objectives to project force in the region. Naturally, the placement of missile systems is not conducive to peace in the region and is directed against NATO, because it is inadequate for the military capabilities if Georgia today or in the future. So, not only Georgia, but the NATO countries should respond to this action. Moreover, Russia is trying thus to copy the US actions to deploy missiles in Eastern Europe. But Russia is not threatenrd by anybody. And Georgia will act appropriately and quite adequately - by appealing to the international organizations.
Interview by Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi, exclusively for “Vestnik Kavkaza."
