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Russia supported the Ajars long before the Chechen War began. Russia is using the Ajars as proxies to retain its influence in the Caucasus, especially to leverage the Georgians into permitting the Russian Armed Forces to maintain its Soviet-era bases in the Georgian Republic.
Russia is also concerned at US inroads in the region. We have begun training and equipping the Georgian armed forces and have increased military cooperation with Azerbaijan as well. Both of these countries have contingents in Iraq, and Georgia even announced it would increase its force in the wake of the Spanish withdrawal.
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