Defense & Security News - Abkhazia
 
Abkhaz Armed Forces Discuses modernization plan with Russian Federation
The modernization of the Abkhaz Armed Forces has been discussed at the working meetings of Russian and Abkhaz defense ministry officials in Sukhum, according to the press office of the Abkhaz Defense Ministry.
     
The modernization of the Abkhaz Armed Forces has been discussed at the working meetings of Russian and Abkhaz defense ministry officials in Sukhum, according to the press office of the Abkhaz Defense Ministry.
military parade in Abkhazia (credit: ITAR-TASS/Vladimir Popov)
     
"Issues pertaining to the upgrade of the republic’s armed services, legal framework, logistics, pay and benefits were discussed by the integrated expert teams of the militaries of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation between February 28 and March 4. A protocol has been signed afterwards," the press office says in a news release.
 

The modernization of the Abkhaz Armed Forces was discussed as part of the implementing of the Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership signed by the Russian and Abkhaz presidents on November 24, 2014. The treaty stipulates "the achieving of the interoperability of the armed forces of the two states." Abkhaz General Staff Chief Anatoly Khrulyov led the Abkhaz team, and Russian General Staff Deputy Chief Sergei Istrakov headed the Russian delegation of specialists in various fields.

"During the consultations, we have devised a more accurate plan for modernizing the Abkhaz Armed Forces, because Article 8 of the international treaty provides for materiel commonality and the introduction of standards of social benefits for the troops," Anatoly Khrulyov told the Abkhaz television broadcaster in an interview.

Previously, on November 21, 2015, the Abkhaz and Russian defense ministries had signed an agreement on a combined force designed for rapid reaction to aggression and other military threats to either signatory. The combined force includes the Russian military base in Abkhazia, and Abkhazia furnished two separate infantry battalions, a field artillery group, an air group and a special forces detachment.
     
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