Tbilisi has moved to deploy armored vehicles near the republic of South Ossetia which was invaded by Georgia in August, says the EU monitor.
Over the past two days the Georgian military has been putting Cobra armored vehicles near the South Ossetian and Abkhazian borders, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) warned on Friday.
"EUMM has consistently advised against the deployment of these military-type vehicles because it firmly believes that they will not contribute to enhancing the security situation on the ground," the group's director Hansjorg Haber was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying.
He added, however, that the move did not run counter to 'relevant provisions' meant to return stability to the area.
Georgia claims it has obtained the permission for the deployment and that the vehicles would not carry heavy weaponry.
On August 7, South Ossetia sustained an offensive by Georgia which meant to retake the independence-leaning province. Russia suppressed the attack defending its nationals and peacekeepers there according to earlier promises.
HN/HAR