State Department Cable: UFOs Over Georgia — Strange Encounters of an MFA Kind
This five-page cable from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to the Secretary of State, drafted October 30, 2001 and signed by Ambassador Vershbow, documents diplomatic exchanges over Georgian accusations that Russian aircraft violated Georgian airspace and bombed areas of the Kodori Gorge on October 28–29, 2001. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mamedov and MFA Georgia Desk Chief Tereoken categorically denied that Russian planes were involved. Tereoken conceded there were credible reports of Abkhaz helicopters bombing areas 'where the terrorists were,' but said reports of planes 'might as well have been about UFOs,' claiming Moscow lacked the technical capability to determine whether foreign planes were present. The cable also covers the withdrawal of Russian military equipment from Gudauta base, disputes over remaining Russian 'guards,' and Georgian parliamentary speaker Zvania's visit to Moscow. In its comment section, the cable's authors reject the Russian denials, characterizing the 'UFO' explanation as a manifestation of a 'traditional Russian penchant to avoid an awkward admission with a bold lie.' According to the releasing agency, the document was declassified in full (John Powers, Acting Director, 2/25/2026) and released as part of the Department of War UAP records collection.
Description
A declassified Confidential U.S. State Department diplomatic cable (MOSCOW 13169) from AMEMBASSY Moscow, dated October 30, 2001, reporting Russian denials of alleged airspace violations and bombing over Georgia's Kodori Gorge on October 28–29, 2001, in which a Russian official suggested reported aircraft 'might as well have been UFOs.'
Claims
Georgian authorities alleged Russian aircraft violated Georgian airspace and bombed areas of the Kodori Gorge on October 28–29, 2001.
70%The Russian Ministry of Defense categorically denied that any Russian planes flew over or bombed the Kodori Gorge.
85%Russian MFA official Tereoken suggested that reported planes 'might as well have been about UFOs,' claiming Moscow lacked technical capability to verify foreign aircraft in the region.
85%The cable authors assess the Russian denials as untrue, describing the 'UFO' explanation as reflecting a Russian penchant to conceal awkward admissions with a 'bold lie.'
80%One trainload of Russian military equipment left Gudauta base for Russia on October 29, with two more loaded and awaiting Abkhaz permission.
80%Approximately 600 Russian personnel remained at Gudauta, with Moscow insisting on keeping about 340 as 'guards.'
80%
Events
Oct 27, 2001
Alleged airspace violation and bombing of Kodori Gorge
Georgian Foreign Ministry alleged Russian aircraft violated Georgian airspace and bombed areas of the Kodori Gorge on October 28–29, 2001.
Oct 29, 2001
Vershbow-Mamedov meeting
Ambassador Vershbow raised the reports; Deputy FM Mamedov relayed Russian MoD's categorical denial.
Oct 29, 2001
Cable drafted and transmitted
MOSCOW 13169 sent to SECSTATE reporting the denials and the 'UFO' explanation.
Oct 28, 2001
Withdrawal of equipment from Gudauta
One trainload of Russian military equipment departed Gudauta base and entered Russia.
Feb 24, 2026
Declassification
Declassified in full by John Powers, Acting Director, U.S. Department of State.
May 7, 2026
Public release
Released as part of the Department of War UAP records collection.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
People
Extracted text (OCR)
COt~FIDEMTIAL
IUNCLASSI Fl ED
CONFIDENTIAL
01 MOSCOW 13169
Oct 30, 2001 / 3000002 Oct 01
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
WASHDC, SECSTATE ROUTINE
Unknown
PREL, MARR, KCFE, UN, OSCE, GG, RS
(A) MOSCOW 13072 (B) TBILISI 3087
UFOS OVER GEORGIA: STRANGE ENCOUNTERS OF AN MFA KIND
MRN:
Date/DTG:
From:
Action:
E.0.:
TAGS:
Reference:
Subject:
cormDEIHIAL
PTQ6889
MOSCOW 13169 01 OF 02 3017542
PAGE 01
ACTION 10-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
MOFM-05 MOF-03 M-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NRRC-00 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00
USIE-00 SA-00 BBG-00 SNIS-00 NISC-00 SSD-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCl-00
/018W
--3782F8 3017542/38
P 3017412 OCT 01
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1142
INFO AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BAKU
AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
USMISSION USOSCE
SECDEF WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
CO Pd FIDE Pd TI AL SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 013169
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/21
TAGS: PREL, MARR, KCFE, UN, OSCE, GG, RS
SUBJECT: UFOS OVER GEORGIA: STRANGE ENCOUNTERS OF AN MFA
COPdFIDEIHIAL
PAGE 02
MOSCOW 13169 01 OF 02 3017542
Declassified in Full / Release in Full
John Powers, Acting-Director
US Department of State
2/25/2026
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KIND
CLASSIFIED BY POLMINCOUNS GEORGE KROL. REASON 1.5 (B/D).
REF: (A) MOSCOW 13072 (B) TBILISI 3087
1. J,f2'[ SUMMARY: 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. MFA GEORGIA DESK
CHIEF TEREOKEN ECHOED MAMEDOV'S STATEMENT. TEREOKEN
FURTHER CONFIRMED THAT ONE RAILWAY CAR FULL OF RUSSIAN
MILITARY EQUIPMENT LEFT GUDAUTA BASE AND ENTERED RUSSIA
OCTOBER 29 (REF A) AND THAT TWO OTHER RAILWAY CARS ARE
LOADED AND AWAITING ABKHAZ PERMISSION TO LEAVE FOR RUSSIA.
THERE ARE NO PLANS TO WITHDRAW PERSONNEL UNTIL TBILISI
AGREES THAT APPROXIMATELY 340 RUSSIAN "GUARDS" CAN REMAIN
AT GUDAUTA. TEREOKEN SAID THAT ABKHAZ AUTHORITIES WOULD
NOT ALLOW ANY OUTSIDE OBSERVERS TO WITNESS THE WITHDRAWAL.
TEREOKEN TERMED GEORGIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER ZVANIA'S
OCTOBER 25-28 VISIT TO MOSCOW POSITIVE IN TONE BUT EMPTY OF
RESULTS. ACCORDING TO THE GEORGIAN EMBASSY, ZVANIA AND
RUSSIAN DUMA SPEAKER SELEZNEV AGREED THAT BOTH SIDES SHOULD
AVOID RECRIMINATIONS. TEREOKEN DENIED MEDIA REPORTS THAT
DEFENSE MINISTER SERGEY IVANOV WAS PLANNING TO VISIT
TBILISI SOON BUT DID NOT RULE OUT A VISIT COMPLETELY. END
SUMMARY
2. ~ ON OCTOBER 30, DURING A PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED
MEETING, AMBASSADOR VERSHBOW RAISED REFTEL B REPORTS
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MOSCOW 13169 01 OF 02 301754Z
ALLEGING RUSSIAN PLANES HAD VIOLATED GEORGIAN AIRSPACE AND
BOMBEDAREASOFTHEKODORIGORGE. THEAMBASSADORSTRESSED
THAT SUCH INCIDENTS, IF TRUE, AND IF CONTINUED, COULD BE
DISASTROUS FOR U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND SPOIL THE
UPCOMING SUMMIT MEETING OF OUR PRESIDENTS IN THE U.S.
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 PLANS WERE
INVOLVED IN ANY INCIDENTS IN GEORGIAN AIRSPACE.
3. Jj&'J MFA GEORGIA DESK CHIEF TEREOKEN, ECHOING MAMEDOV'S
CLAIMS, DENIED TO US OCTOBER 30 REPORTS OF RUSSIAN PLANES
BOMBING KODORI GORGE IN ABKHAZIA. HE ALSO DENIED THAT
THERE WERE ANY RUSSIAN VIOLATIONS OF GEORGIAN AIRSPACE,
SAYING THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO RUSSIAN PLANES FLYING NEAR
THE AREA ON EITHER OCTOBER 28 OR 29. 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." MOSCOW, HE EXPLAINED, DOES NOT HAVE THE TECHNICAL
CAPABILITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WERE FOREIGN PLANES
IN THE REGION. UNDERSCORING THAT HE "WAS NOT ACCUSING
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ANYONE," TEREOKEN ADDED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT "ANY
SIDE" HAD SENT PLANES OVER KODORI.
4. ~ ASKED ABOUT PLANS TO WITHDRAW FROM GUDAUTA (REF
A), TEREOKEN CONFIRMED THAT ONE TRAINLOAD OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT HAD DEPARTED THE BASE AND HAD ENTERED RUSSIA THE
MORNING OF OCTOBER 29. TWO MORE TRAINS HAVE BEEN LOADED
AND ARE AWAITING PERMISSION FROM ABKHA2 AUTHORITIES TO MOVE
TO RUSSIA. MEMBERS OF THE RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF ARE IN
eorqflEJEM'rli\L
MOSCOW 13169 01 OF 02 3017542
PAGE 04
SUKHUMI TO COORDINATE THESE MOVES.
5. j,{d'[WE ASKED WHY OUTSIDE OBSERVERS HAD NOT BEEN INVITED
TO INSPECT THE WITHDRAWALS. TEREOKEN CLAIMED THAT THE
ABKHAZ AUTHORITIES LIKELY WOULD NOT TOLERATE THE PRESENCE
OF OUTSIDERS GIVEN THE TENSE SITUATION WITH TBILISI. THE
RUSSIANS, HE ADDED, HAD NO TIME TO INVITE OUTSIDE OBSERVERS
BECAUSE "WE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE" THAT THE
WITHDRAWAL OF ONE TRAINLOAD OF EQUIPMENT WOULD PROCEED. WE
ARGUED THAT MOSCOW NOW HAS TIME IF IT HAS ALREADY LOADED
TWO OTHER TRAINS BUT IS WAITING FOR ABKHAZ PERMISSION TO
WITHDRAW. THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY MIGHT RAISE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE GOR'S INTENTIONS, WE NOTED. WE ASKED ABOUT PLANS
TO WITHDRAW TROOPS. TEREOKEN SAID THAT APPROXIMATELY 600
RUSSIAN PERSONNEL REMAIN AT GUDAUTA. MOSCOW CONTINUES TO
INSIST ON KEEPING ABOUT 340 THERE AS "GUARDS." TBILISI, HE
NOTED, CONTINUES TO WANT A MUCH LOWER FIGURE.
6. Ge'.) WE ASKED TEREOKEN ABOUT GEORGIAN PARLIAMENTARY
SPEAKER 2URAB 2VANIA'S VISIT TO MOSCOW LAST WEEK. HE
CONFIRMED THAT THE TONE OF 2VANIA'S VISIT WAS POSITIVE. HE
NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE VISIT "HAD NO PRACTICAL OUTCOME."
THE GEORGIAN EMBASSY TOLD US OCTOBER 26 THAT GEORGIAN
ZVANIA'S VISIT WAS GOING WELL (NOTE: 2VANIA DEPARTED
MOSCOW OCTOBER 28). ACCORDING TO GEORGIAN POLCOUNS
CHKHEID2E, 2VANIA AND RUSSIAN DUMA SPEAKER GENNADIY
eormeerrnit1:t
eorqflEJElq'fli\L
PTQ6891
PAGE 01
MOSCOW 13169 02 OF 02 3017542
ACTION 10-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
VC-00 H-01
MOFM-05 MOF-03 M-00 AC-01 NRRC-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00
SA-00 SNIS-00 NISC-00 SSD-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCl-00 /017W
----378300 3017542/38
P 3017412 OCT 01
!UNCLASSIFIED
COMFIDEMTIAL
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!UNCLASSIFIED
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1143
INFO AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BAKU
AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
USMISSION USOSCE
SECDEF WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
CO fd FIDE fd TI AL JECTION 02 OF 02 MOSCOW 013169
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/21
TAGS: PREL, MARR, KCFE, UN, OSCE, GG,RS
SUBJECT: UFOS OVER GEORGIA: STRANGE ENCOUNTERS OF AN MFA
KIND
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MOSCOW 13169 02 OF 02 301754Z
SELEZNEV AGREED THAT BOTH COUNTRIES NEEDED TO DISCUSS THEIR
DIFFERENCES CALMLY AND WORK ON A GENERAL TREATY.
7. -"3'J 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. 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.
8. -"3'J COMMENT: 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. 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. THEIR
OFFICIAL DENIALS REFLECT A TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN PENCHANT TO
AVOID AN AWKWARD ADMISSION WITH A BOLD LIE. 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 CHECH ENS INSIDE GEORGIA.
VERSHBOW
COfdFIDDdTIAL
« END OF DOCUMENT »
Info:
TBILISI, AMEMBASSY ROUTINE
!UNCLASSIFIED
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INCLASSIFIED
Dissemination Rule:
Archive Copy
CONFIDEHTl>'lcL
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