Abkhazia calls Georgia accusations of WMD smuggling provocative

TBILISI, January 25 (RIA Novosti) - The foreign minister of Abkhazia called provocative Tbilisi's speculations, voiced by the Foreign Ministry, that weapons of mass destruction (WMD) could be smuggled across Russia's borders with Georgia's breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia's fears are linked to a criminal case against a Russian citizen, arrested in 2006 for attempting to sell high-enriched uranium in the ex-Soviet republic. Three Georgian citizens were also arrested in the case.

"Abkhazia is just as mindful of regional security as is Georgia," Abkhazia's Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba said, adding that Tbilisi has been trying to discredit the self-proclaimed republic by making provocative statements just before or during UN Security Council sessions.

A Georgian court sentenced Oleg Khinsagov, who was born in the Russian North Caucasus republic of North Ossetia, to eight years in prison Thursday for attempting to sell 100 grams of high-enriched uranium, according to the Georgian Interior Ministry.

Three Georgian citizens in the case were also convicted and sentenced to between four and six years in prison, the ministry said.