President Putin has personally attended the opening and the first phase of military trainings.

The trainings will be conducted on Novorossiysk “Raevski” shooting-range. 

After the trainings, Putin plans to award the militaries, who will show outstanding skills during the excursuses.  

“Caucasus 2012” will last from September 17 to 23.

This is one of the most large-scale military exercises involving 8 thousand people and 300 combat vehicles. 

Some in Georgia think that on the background of the parliamentary elections scheduled on October 1 in Georgia, the mentioned trainings is a demonstration of the power by Russia.
Russia was urged not once to cancel or make transparent these trainings. The NATO Secretary General said Moscow should clearly define the training goals.  

Not long ago, Russia has made decision, according to which Russian military bases located on occupied territories of Georgia will no longer participate in “Caucasus 2012”. As the official Moscow said this step was made due to doubts related to conduction of trainings in Georgia.  

internet.ge