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Russian drone 'hit over Georgia' | Russian drone 'hit over Georgia' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Georgia says its military has shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone that was flying over Georgian territory - a claim denied by Russia. | |
The unmanned plane was downed south of the de facto border with breakaway South Ossetia, the Georgian government said, though no evidence was provided. | The unmanned plane was downed south of the de facto border with breakaway South Ossetia, the Georgian government said, though no evidence was provided. |
Russia dismissed the claim as "another media provocation by Georgia". | Russia dismissed the claim as "another media provocation by Georgia". |
Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia after a short war broke out over the territory last month. | Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia after a short war broke out over the territory last month. |
Russia has been withdrawing from Georgia proper under a ceasefire deal. | Russia has been withdrawing from Georgia proper under a ceasefire deal. |
European Union monitors have been deploying in Georgia, to verify the Russian withdrawal and oversee the ceasefire. They are due to start patrolling on 1 October. | European Union monitors have been deploying in Georgia, to verify the Russian withdrawal and oversee the ceasefire. They are due to start patrolling on 1 October. |
Georgia accused separatists from Abkhazia, a second breakaway region also recognised by Moscow, of breaching the ceasefire and shooting dead a Georgian police officer on Sunday. | Georgia accused separatists from Abkhazia, a second breakaway region also recognised by Moscow, of breaching the ceasefire and shooting dead a Georgian police officer on Sunday. |
Drone claims | Drone claims |
Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said the drone was shot down on Monday near the town of Gori, some 30 km (20 miles) from South Ossetia. | |
"It was flying over the territory between the villages of Khurvaleti and Tsitelubani," Mr Utiashvili said. | |
"We believe it was patrolling the territory where the Baku-Supsa [oil] pipeline runs." | |
Reconnaissance flights played a role in escalating tensions between Georgia and Russia in the build-up to the war that broke out on 7 August. | Reconnaissance flights played a role in escalating tensions between Georgia and Russia in the build-up to the war that broke out on 7 August. |
In May Georgia released video pictures of what it said was a Russian jet shooting down a Georgian drone over Abkhazia. | In May Georgia released video pictures of what it said was a Russian jet shooting down a Georgian drone over Abkhazia. |
Georgia said the jet had breached its territorial integrity - which was at that stage still recognised by Russia. | Georgia said the jet had breached its territorial integrity - which was at that stage still recognised by Russia. |
Russia denied its jet was involved, though UN monitors backed the Georgian claim. | Russia denied its jet was involved, though UN monitors backed the Georgian claim. |
Earlier in the month Abkhaz fighters said they had shot down two Georgian drones over Abkhazia - a claim denied by Georgia. | Earlier in the month Abkhaz fighters said they had shot down two Georgian drones over Abkhazia - a claim denied by Georgia. |
In July Russia admitted its jets had flown over South Ossetia. | In July Russia admitted its jets had flown over South Ossetia. |
The conflict in the region began when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes. | The conflict in the region began when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes. |
Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. | Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. |