Georgian Foreign Minister, Grigol Vashadze, suggested on August 24, that along with Abkhazia, Russia also had its enhanced air-defense system, S-300, deployed in another breakaw:ay region of South Ossetia.

Russian sources have denied the allegation. Interfax news agency reported on August 25, quoting unnamed source from the Russian Defense Ministry, that Moscow provides air defense of its military base in South Ossetia Buk and Tunguska self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons. 

“Russia has deployed S-300 in occupied Abkhazia and Russia has stuffed its military base in Gyumri [Armenia] with S-300 systems. Though it [Russia] has not announced it publicly yet, be sure that Russia has definitely deployed S-300 in the Tskhinvali region as well,” Georgian Foreign Minister, Grigol Vashadze, told reporters on August 24.

“Russia has actually created a triangle over South Caucasus and its bordering regions, which, as they think, will be needed for them for confrontation with NATO or Turkey,” he added.

Russia said this month it had deployed S-300 air-defense system in Abkhazia in autumn 2008.