Georgia’s president denounced Russia on Wednesday for illegally occupying part of the country as it began two weeks of military exercises with the United States and several other NATO members.
About 1,300 soldiers from Georgia, 1,170 from the United States and several hundred from eight other NATO member states joined in maneuvers falling just a few days before the 10th anniversary of Georgia’s war with Russia.
Russia and Georgia fought a war in August 2008 over the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia. Moscow continues to garrison troops there and to support another breakaway region, Abkhazia, after recognizing both regions as independent states. The “Noble Partner” exercises are being held in Georgia for the fourth time. Russian officials have not commented on the event yet, but in previous years Moscow warned that drills could destabilize the region, a charge denied by Georgian officials. Läs arikel