Russia to spend $US 400 million on military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Construction of military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia will cost Russia around $US 400 million, an official in the Ministry of Defence has told Gazeta Daily.

The bases in South Ossetia alone will cost more than $US 200 million. Such a large sum is required in order not only to build barracks and parks for military units, but also to reconstruct roads and communications, he explained.

In South Ossetia the bases will be in Tskhinval and Dzhava. Now there is only one way to get there from Russia. The vice-speaker of the South Ossetian parliament, Yury Dzitstsoity, has said that building of a new road is planned for military use.

In Abkhazia, building bases will cost a little less, because the military infrastructure there remains from Soviet times. Moreover, the railway communication with the republic was restored not long before the conflict.

Earlier it was announced that Russia plans to place three bases in the region: one in South Ossetia and two in Abkhazia