[LINK] "Vladimir Putin promises to make breakaway Abkhazia ‘a fortress’"

[rfmcdonald]

Well, so much for real Abkhazian independence.

Vladimir Putin made his first visit to Abkhazia, Georgia’s breakaway region, and pledged massive spending to turn it into a Russian military fortress.

Mr Putin chose the first anniversary of the ceasefire that ended Russia’s war with Georgia to travel to Abkhazia’s capital, Sukhumi. He promised almost $500 million (£320 million) to build a military base and reinforce the de facto border with Georgia.

"Russia is going to deploy its armed forces in Abkhazia and take the necessary efforts to build a modern border guard system in co-operation with the relevant Abkhazian authorities. All these factors are serious guarantees of the security of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Mr Putin said.

[. . .]

He travelled to Sukhumi with Russia’s ministers for defence, transportation and regional development as well as officials from Russian Railways and the oil company Rosneft.

Mr Putin told Sergei Bagapsh, Abkhazia’s President: "This is not a random choice of colleagues who are present here today... large-scale joint operations are planned in virtually all the spheres that my colleagues represent."

Rosneft later announced that it expected to develop oil fields off Abkhazia’s Black Sea coast. To Georgia’s fury, Abkhazia is also expected to provide building materials for projects in the nearby Russian city of Sochi, which is hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The bit about the twins named after him and President Medvedev is particularly encouraging.