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Russian Combat Helicopter Violated Georgian Airspace – Tbilisi

Russia briefly violated Georgia's airspace after a combat helicopter illegally crossed the border into the neighboring country, Georgia's Defense Ministry said Thursday according to the Interfax news agency.

The helicopter crossed back into Russia after several minutes, the report said, adding that Russia's Defense Ministry had not commented on the incident.

Russia is often accused of violating air rules in what some claim is an attempt to test the defenses of neighboring countries.

Tbilisi in August accused a Russian Mi-8 helicopter of violating Georgia's airspace near the border with South Ossetia — a Russian-backed breakaway region — during a military exercise.

A Russian Su-24 jet was also downed by Turkey on the border with Syria last month, after the plane briefly strayed into Turkish airspace, according to Ankara. Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the violation and called the downing a “stab in the back.”

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