BATUMI. Aug 27 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said that the Russian military should hand over to Georgia the testing range in Gonio, which is located several kilometers outside of Batumi, Ajaria.
"The Russian military should leave the testing range in Gonio, otherwise we will raise the issue acutely next year," he told a meeting of the Georgian Cabinet in Batumi on Thursday.
He said it was impermissible for Russian troops to use a resort area as a shooting range.
The testing range of the Russian base in Gonio is located near the Gonio fortress, which is considered an historical monument. Georgian scientists say that the shooting at the range is damaging the fortress.