Russia smashes Georgian army

By Ralph Boulton

TBILISI (Reuters) - A roll of explosions at a Russian-occupied military base this week sent a clear Kremlin message to Georgia about the frailty of its infant military and its prospects for NATO membership.

The Russian army destroyed a hoard of Georgian arms and ammunition captured in a brief war that saw Georgian forces scattered, their bases seized and equipment carried off.

"Of course, there was a great symbolism to them doing this at the Senaki base," said Professor Tornike Sharashenidze of the Georgian Institute for Public Affairs.

"In their eyes Senaki was a bit of NATO that they just don't want to see in Georgia."

Senaki, in western Georgia, was a 'showpiece' base built to NATO specifications under a military buildup launched by President Mikheil Saakashvili after his 2003 "Rose Revolution".

Barracks were of a level of comfort unfamiliar to Russian soldiers, facilities and equipment were NATO-style, many of its soldiers trained in alliance countries.

"It's all wrecked now," Deputy Defence Minister Batu Kutelia told Reuters. "The buildings, the arms, all gone. If you consider that this is one of the few such modern bases we have, this was very important for us."

Witnesses saw Russian troops, who had earlier parried a Georgian attack on the pro-Russia rebel region of South Ossetia and thrust into Georgia's heartland, remove crates of equipment at other bases, airports and ports throughout the country.