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UFOs Over Georgia: Strange Encounters of an MFA Kind
Cable reporting a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mamedov about alleged Russian planes in Georgian airspace. MFA Georgia Desk Chief denied Russian involvement and suggested reports 'might as well have been about UFOs.'
Analysis
Russia bombed Georgia's Kodori Gorge on October 28-29, 2001 -- then denied everything with a straight face. When Ambassador Vershbow raised the airspace violations, Russia's Georgia Desk Chief suggested the aircraft might have been "UFOs" and claimed Moscow lacked the technical capability to know whether foreign planes were even in the region. Vershbow's assessment: "to posit that they could be UFOs would be humorous if it were not for the seriousness of the violations." He added that Russia's denial reflected "a traditional Russian penchant to avoid an awkward admission with a bold lie." The cable's real subject is Russian-Georgian tensions over Abkhazia and Gudauta base withdrawals. The "UFO" element is pure diplomatic trolling -- a Russian official weaponizing the absurdity of the term to deflect accountability.
Key Findings
- Russian MFA dismissed reports of unidentified aircraft over Georgia as potentially being "UFOs"
- Russian Ministry of Defense categorically denied any Russian planes were involved in Georgian airspace incidents
- Tereoken admitted credible reports of Abkhaz helicopters bombing areas but denied fixed-wing aircraft involvement
- Russia claimed it lacked technical capability to determine whether foreign planes were in the region
- Ambassador Vershbow assessed the denials as reflecting "a traditional Russian penchant to avoid an awkward admission with a bold lie"
- Context was Russian pressure on Georgia regarding Chechens in Kodori Gorge and Abkhazia negotiations
Page Extractions 5 pages
Page 1
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doc_typecable
classificationConfidential (declassified in full)
page_descriptionCover page of State Department cable from U.S. Embassy Moscow regarding UFO sightings over Georgia, with routing information and declassification statement.
dates
- 2001-10-30 | date of cable (Oct 30, 2001)
- 2001-10-01 | DTG date (Oct 01)
- 2026-02-25 | declassification date (2/25/2026)
peopleJohn Powers | Acting-Director | U.S. Department of State | declassification authority
organizations
- AMEMBASSY MOSCOW | U.S. Embassy Moscow | originating organization
- SECSTATE | U.S. State Department
- WASHDC | Washington D.C.
- AMEMBASSY TBILISI | U.S. Embassy Tbilisi
- AMEMBASSY BAKU | U.S. Embassy Baku
- AMEMBASSY YEREVAN | U.S. Embassy Yerevan
- USMISSION USUN NEW YORK | U.S. Mission to United Nations
- USMISSION USOSCE | U.S. Mission to OSCE
- SECDEF WASHDC | Secretary of Defense Washington D.C.
- JOINT STAFF WASHDC | Joint Staff Washington D.C.
- U.S. Department of State | U.S. government agency
references
- MOSCOW 13072 | prior related cable
- TBILISI 3087 | related cable from Tbilisi
quotes
- "UFOS OVER GEORGIA: STRANGE ENCOUNTERS OF AN MFA KIND" | cable subject line
- "Declassified in Full / Release in Full" | declassification statement
Page 2
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doc_typecable
classificationConfidential (declassified)
page_descriptionState Department cable containing diplomatic exchange regarding alleged Russian military activities over Georgia/Abkhazia, including UFO reference in context of unidentified aircraft reports.
dates
- 2001-10-30 | date of discussion with Ambassador Vershbow
- 2001-10-28 | date of alleged Kodori Gorge incidents
- 2001-10-29 | date of alleged Kodori Gorge incidents and railway car movement
- 2001-10-25 to 2001-10-28 | dates of Zvania's visit to Moscow
people
- Deputy Foreign Minister Mamedov | Russian government | cited Russian Ministry of Defense denial
- Ambassador Vershbow | U.S. government | U.S. Embassy Moscow | raised incident reports
- George Krol | PolMinCouns | document classifier
- MFA Georgia Desk Chief Tereoken | Russian Foreign Ministry | denied reports
- Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Zvania | Georgian government | visited Moscow
- Russian Duma Speaker Seleznev | Russian government | agreed on avoiding recriminations
- Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov | Russian government | reported planning visit to Tbilisi
organizations
- Russian Ministry of Defense | Russian government
- U.S. Embassy Moscow | U.S. government
- Georgian Parliamentary Authority | Georgian government
- Abkhaz Authorities | de facto government
- Russian Foreign Ministry (MFA) | Russian government
- OSCE | international organization
locations
- Georgia | country
- Kodori Gorge | disputed region in Abkhazia
- Abkhazia | disputed territory
- Gudauta Base | Russian military facility
- Russia | country
- Tbilisi | capital of Georgia
- Moscow | capital of Russia
observationsReports of Russian planes allegedly violating Georgian airspace and bombing areas in Kodori Gorge October 28-29. Tereoken denied Russian planes were flying near area on either October 28 or 29. Acknowledged credible reports of Abkhaz helicopters bombing areas "where the terrorists were." Stated that reports of planes in area "might as well have been about 'UFOs.'" Explained that Moscow does not have technical capability to determine whether there were foreign planes in the region.
assessments
- Russian Ministry of Defense categorically denies Russian planes involved in any incidents in Georgian airspace | Russian government
- No Russian violations of Georgian airspace | Tereoken
- Unidentified aircraft reports cannot be verified by Moscow due to lack of technical capability | Tereoken
- Credible reports of Abkhaz helicopters bombing areas | Tereoken
references
- MOSCOW 13072 | prior related cable regarding railway car movement
- TBILISI 3087 | related cable from Tbilisi
quotes
- "DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MAMEDOV TOLD AMBASSADOR VERSHBOW OCTOBER 30 THAT ACCORDING TO THE RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, NO RUSSIAN PLANES FLEW OVER OR BOMBED POSITIONS IN THE KODORI GORGE OCTOBER 28-29, DESPITE GEORGIAN ACCUSATIONS TO THE CONTRARY." | cable summary
- "MAMEDOV AGREED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE SUMMIT, BUT QUOTED THE RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AS CATEGORICALLY DENYING THAT RUSSIAN PLANES WERE INVOLVED IN ANY INCIDENTS IN GEORGIAN AIRSPACE." | paragraph 2
- "ACCORDING TO TEREOKEN, THERE WERE CREDIBLE REPORTS OF ABKHAZ HELICOPTERS BOMBING THE AREAS 'WHERE THE TERRORISTS WERE' BUT THAT REPORTS OF PLANES IN THE AREA MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN ABOUT 'UFOS.'" | paragraph 3
- "MOSCOW, HE EXPLAINED, DOES NOT HAVE THE TECHNICAL CAPABILITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WERE FOREIGN PLANES IN THE REGION." | paragraph 3
Page 3
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doc_typecable
classificationConfidential (declassified)
page_descriptionState Department cable continuation containing discussion of military equipment withdrawals from Gudauta, transparency concerns, and Georgian parliamentary speaker's visit to Moscow.
dates
- 2001-10-29 | date of military equipment departure from Gudauta
- 2001-10-26 | date Georgian Embassy reported on Zvania's visit
- 2001-10-28 | date Zvania departed Moscow
people
- MFA Georgia Desk Chief Tereoken | Russian Foreign Ministry | provided information on withdrawals and diplomatic visits
- Ambassador Vershbow | U.S. government | asked questions about withdrawals
- Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Zurab Zvania | Georgian government | visited Moscow
- Russian Duma Speaker Gennadiy Seleznev | Russian government | met with Zvania
- Georgian PolCouns Chkheidge | Georgian Embassy | reported on Zvania's visit
- Members of Russian General Staff | Russian military | in Sukhumi to coordinate moves
organizations
- Russian General Staff | Russian military
- Abkhaz Authorities | de facto government
- Georgian Embassy | Georgian government
- U.S. Embassy | U.S. government
- Russian Foreign Ministry | Russian government
locations
- Gudauta | Russian military base in Abkhazia
- Sukhumi | city in Abkhazia
- Russia | country
- Kodori | region in Abkhazia
- Tbilisi | capital of Georgia
- Moscow | capital of Russia
observationsOne trainload of military equipment departed Gudauta base and entered Russia morning of October 29. Two more trains have been loaded and awaiting permission from Abkhaz authorities to move to Russia. Members of Russian General Staff in Sukhumi to coordinate moves. Russian personnel at Gudauta: approximately 600 remain total; Moscow insists on keeping about 340 as "guards"; Tbilisi wants much lower figure. U.S. expressed concern about lack of transparency in withdrawal procedures and absence of outside observers.
assessments
- Abkhaz authorities likely would not tolerate presence of outside observers given tense situation with Tbilisi | Tereoken
- Russians had no time to invite outside observers because withdrawal decision came at last minute | Tereoken
- Lack of transparency might raise questions about Russian intentions | U.S. assessment
- Zvania's visit had positive tone but no practical outcome | Tereoken and Georgian sources
- Both Russian and Georgian sides agreed to avoid recriminations | diplomatic discussion
quotes
- "TEREOKEN ADDED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT 'ANY SIDE' HAD SENT PLANES OVER KODORI." | paragraph 3 continuation
- "TEREOKEN CONFIRMED THAT ONE TRAINLOAD OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT HAD DEPARTED THE BASE AND HAD ENTERED RUSSIA THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 29." | paragraph 4
- "TEREOKEN CLAIMED THAT THE ABKHAZ AUTHORITIES LIKELY WOULD NOT TOLERATE THE PRESENCE OF OUTSIDERS GIVEN THE TENSE SITUATION WITH TBILISI." | paragraph 5
- "WE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE" THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF ONE TRAINLOAD OF EQUIPMENT WOULD PROCEED." | Tereoken explanation
- "THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY MIGHT RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOR'S INTENTIONS." | U.S. position
- "MOSCOW CONTINUES TO INSIST ON KEEPING ABOUT 340 THERE AS 'GUARDS.'" | paragraph 5
- "HE CONFIRMED THAT THE TONE OF ZVANIA'S VISIT WAS POSITIVE. HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE VISIT 'HAD NO PRACTICAL OUTCOME.'" | paragraph 6
Page 4
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doc_typecable
classificationConfidential (declassified)
page_descriptionFinal page of State Department cable containing ambassador's assessment of Russian denials and UFO reference, discussion of Defense Minister visit plans, and closing comment section.
dates
- 2001-10-29 | declassification date reference
- 2001-11-30 to 2001-12-01 | planned CIS Summit in Moscow
people
- Russian Duma Speaker Seleznev | Russian government | agreed on need to discuss differences calmly
- Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov | Russian government | subject of press reports about potential visit
- President Shevardnadze | Georgian government | mentioned as possible summit participant
- President Putin | Russian government | mentioned as possible summit participant
- Ambassador Vershbow | U.S. government | author of comment section
organizations
- U.S. Embassy Moscow | U.S. government
- State Department | U.S. government
- CIS | Commonwealth of Independent States
- Chechen groups | non-state actors
locations
- Tbilisi | capital of Georgia
- Kodori Gorge | disputed region
- Abkhazia | disputed territory
- Georgia | country
- Russia | country
- Moscow | capital of Russia
assessments
- Hard to accept Russian denials that Russian planes were not involved | Ambassador Vershbow
- To posit that violations could be UFOs would be humorous if not for seriousness | Ambassador Vershbow
- Most likely Russians want to keep pressure on Georgians and Chechens in Gorge to prevent their movement to Abkhazia or Russia | Ambassador Vershbow
- Russian official denials reflect traditional Russian penchant to avoid awkward admission with bold lie | Ambassador Vershbow
- Russians likely using continued presence of 600 troops at Gudauta as bargaining chip | Ambassador Vershbow
- Both countries agreed to discuss differences calmly and work on general treaty | Seleznev and Zvania agreement
quotes
- "SELEZNEV AGREED THAT BOTH COUNTRIES NEEDED TO DISCUSS THEIR DIFFERENCES CALMLY AND WORK ON A GENERAL TREATY." | paragraph 6 continuation
- "TEREOKEN DISMISSED PRESS REPORTS THAT DEFENSE MINISTER SERGEY IVANOV HAD AGREED TO VISIT TBILISI VERY SOON BUT NOTED HE COULD NOT ENTIRELY RULE OUT A VISIT IN THE COMING WEEKS." | paragraph 7
- "HE CLAIMED THERE ARE PLANS FOR A POSSIBLE MEETING BETWEEN SHEVARDNADZE AND PUTIN ON THE MARGINS OF THE NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 1 CIS SUMMIT IN MOSCOW, BUT NOTED NOTHING IS YET CONFIRMED." | paragraph 7
- "IT IS HARD TO ACCEPT OFFICIAL RUSSIAN DENIALS THAT RUSSIAN PLANES WERE NOT INVOLVED. TO POSIT THAT THEY COULD BE UFOS WOULD BE HUMOROUS IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE VIOLATIONS." | Ambassador Vershbow comment
- "MOST LIKELY THE RUSSIANS WANT TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE GEORGIANS AND THE CHECHENS IN THE GORGE IN AN UNSUBTLE EFFORT TO PREVENT THESE GROUPS' MOVEMENT TO ABKHAZIA OR TO RUSSIA." | Ambassador Vershbow assessment
- "THEIR OFFICIAL DENIALS REFLECT A TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN PENCHANT TO AVOID AN AWKWARD ADMISSION WITH A BOLD LIE." | Ambassador Vershbow assessment
- "AS FOR GUDAUTA, THE GOR LIKELY IS USING THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF ITS 600 TROOPS THERE AS A BARGAINING CHIP TO TRY TO GET CONCESSIONS FROM TBILISI ON BOTH THE BODEN PAPER ON ABKHAZIA AND ON CLAMPING DOWN ON CHECHENS INSIDE GEORGIA." | Ambassador Vershbow assessment
Page 5
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doc_typecable
classificationConfidential (declassified)
page_descriptionBack cover page of State Department cable showing dissemination rule and classification markings.
redactionsPage mostly blank with only administrative markings visible