Russia heightened tensions with Georgia Tuesday by warning that it will detain Georgian ships entering the territorial waters of Abkhazia, a breakaway province allied with Moscow, AP qouted news agencies as reporting. Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent nations after a brief war with Georgia last year and has posted thousands of troops in both regions. Georgia, whose military was routed during the fighting, has in recent months tried to assert authority over Abkhazia in part by stopping ships from delivering cargo there. Russian coast guard chief Lt. Gen. Viktor Trufanov said Tuesday that Georgia has illegally intercepted more than 20 ships in the Black Sea off Abkhazia this year, Interfax and RIA-Novosti reported. He said that Russia forces will intercept but not destroy any Georgian ships that try to stop ships in Abkhazian waters from now on. Two weeks ago, Abkhazian authorities warned they would open fire on any Georgian ships entering what they consider Abkhazian waters. -- SPA
