Helicopter Conveying Georgian Defense Minister Fired in South OssetiaSeptember 4, 2006 - 16:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Mi-8 helicopter that was conveying Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili and deputy chief of the Georgian Armed Forces' General Staff Zaza Gogava was fired upon September 3 above the settlement of Sachkhere (Imereti region). The helicopter was damaged and the pilot had to land in the town of Gori.Several heavy-caliber bullets reached the helicopter but the pilot managed the flight and landed the aircraft. After landing in Gori the Georgian Defense Minister had a short meeting with journalists. "The Ossetia keeps on saying that the Georgian side violates its air space, but this is absurd. The shots were fired by the Ossetian gangs whose raging will be stopped soon. Ossetia will have to account for the incident and give an appropriate explanation," Okruashvili said. Meanwhile on Sunday the South Ossetian committee for information and press posted information on its website which said that September 3 in the Znaur region a helicopter belonging to the Georgian Ministry of Interior violated the air space of the South Ossetian Republic. "The pilots of the helicopter did not respond to numerous offers to land or change the route. The violations of the South Ossetian air space become too frequent. During the recent 5 months the Georgian side 240 times violated the borders of the South Ossetian air space," the statement says, reported the Georgian News. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |