Russian peacekeepers in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict do not interfere in the military operation in the upper part of the Kodori gorge, Deputy Commander of Russia’s Land Forces for Peacekeeping Operations, Lieutenant-General Valery Yevnevich said. He told journalists on Wednesday that “it’s not a police operation, as Tbilisi has announced, but a real military operation.“ “Two more army convoys of Georgian troops were sent to the zone of engagement. At 11:30 Moscow time, personnel at the Russian peacekeepers’ observation post No. 312 registered the passage of four Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters,” the generals aid. Yevnevich expressed concern that the situation in the Kodori gorge may lead to “a resumption of full-scale hostilities between Georgia and Abkhazia because Sukhumi is already redeploying troops to the combat area.” Russia has no information about casualties on either side, but they have been reported by refugees. “Peacekeepers are not intervening in the conflict. Their task is not to participate but to prevent bloodshed and, jointly with the U.N. mission, bring Georgia back to the negotiating table,” Yevnevich said. In his words, “Tensions are growing fast in another conflict zone, South Ossetia, as well.” On Tuesday, Georgia, in violation of the agreed-upon schedule, rotated its battalion in the joint peacekeeping force in the zone of the South Ossetian conflict. On Wednesday morning, Russian peacekeepers registered the passage of Georgian Su-25 attack planes in this zone. (Itar-Tass)