Russia is building a new naval base in the Black Sea

Aslan Bzhania, the leader of Abkhazia, which declared independence from Georgia, announced that Russia plans to establish a naval base on Abkhazia’s Black Sea coast.

Bzhania met with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. According to Izvestia news, Bzhania said that an agreement was signed for a permanent naval base in the Ochamchira region.

“We signed the agreement and in the near future there will be a permanent base of the Russian navy in the Ochamchira region,” Bzhania said. “This agreement is aimed at increasing the defense capabilities of both Russia and Abkhazia, and such interactions will continue,” he said.

After Russian troops repelled Georgia’s attempt to retake South Ossetia in a five-day war that ended on August 12, 2008, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and the other breakaway region, South Ossetia. (Reuters)