Tbilisi Contends Attack Was Hostile, Russia Denies Everything

A panel of international experts invited by the Georgian Foreign Ministry to review an August 6 incident, during which an aircraft entered Georgian airspace and dropped or jettisoned a missile, has determined the aircraft came from Russian air space, according to the Associated Press.

Radio Free Europe reports the panel says the missile was a Russian-designed KH-58, which is designed to take out radar systems. The panel notes Georgia's air force "does not possess aircraft equipped with or able to launch" such a missile.

According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, the panel found a single aircraft entered Georgian airspace from Russian territory a total of three times. One lasted less than 60 seconds, the other two lasted 11 minutes each. The third trip took the aircraft deep into Georgian territory.

The group did not identify the aircraft, which Georgian officials insist was a Russian Su-24 jet (type shown above and below), or address the fact the missile -- which did not explode -- landed near the village of Tsitelubani.

Russia denies any of its aircraft flew into Georgia and accused Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, of theatrics and staging a provocation when demands for an explanation were made. Tbilisi contends the attack was hostile in nature.

"The conclusions of the group of experts has confirmed the facts of the Georgian side," Foreign Ministry spokesman David Dondua told reporters at a news conference.

"There will be bilateral talks with Russia, which are taking place at our request," Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said. "Today (Thursday) we will share the evidence we have with a high-ranking group of Russian experts and listen to what they have to say. They have many questions to answer."

Zarina Gabiyev, a Russian Embassy spokesperson in Tbilisi, said she had no comment on the report. But did say a group of Russian military experts would be joining the investigation Thursday.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili believes Russia is less than pleased with his determination to bring Georgia into NATO and the European Union, according to the AP.

"The proximity of this attack to Georgia's separatist South Ossetia region and the violation of Georgia's airspace over the zone of conflict underscore the pressing need for progress toward peaceful resolution of the South Ossetia conflict. We encourage Russia and Georgia to advance efforts to this end in a constructive spirit, even in the face of this latest attack," said US embassy spokesperson Sean McCormack at the time of the incident.

Georgia and Russia have long been at odds over the region where the missile fell and this latest incident has increased tensions that were already high.

South Ossetia broke away from Tbilisi in the mid-1990s and has been de-facto independent. It is led by what has been described as an internationally unrecognized separatist government that Russia openly and financially supports.

Irakli Alasania, Georgia's UN Ambassador has been in talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about the report. Alasania has reportedly urged Ban to convene a special session of the UN Security Council to address the incident.

FMI: www.mfa.gov.ge