…AS RUSSIA HOLDS OUT MILITARY HARDWARE FOR GEORGIA.

Nadibaidze apparently did not mention at the briefing that Moscow expects basing rights in Georgia as a quid-pro-quo for military materiel it plans to provide. The command of Georgia’s would-be air force announced that it is negotiating with Moscow for the delivery of Russian combat aircraft to Georgia, reconstruction of Georgian military airfields, and training of Georgian airmen. Other officials of Georgia’s Defense Ministry said that negotiations are also in progress on the delivery of six Russian coastal guard vessels to Georgia as a first step in creating a Georgian navy. The officials are considering the establishment of a joint Russian-Georgian naval base in Poti, the ex-Soviet Black Sea Fleet base in Georgia, now in need of major repairs. (Interfax, June 21)

Corruption Uncovered in Turkmenistan’s Military, Security Bodies.