Russia starts withdrawal of military bases from Georgia

TBLISI, July 30 (RIA Novosti) – The first convoy of vehicles carrying
Russian military equipment has left a base in Batumi (Adzharia), and
is moving towards the Russian-Georgian border. Nine trucks and two
accompanying cars left the base early Saturday morning.

The convoy should arrive at Mtskhet (80 km from Tblisi) by evening. On
Saturday night, the convoy will pass through the Tskhinvaly Region and
the Rok tunnel, which links North (Russian) and South Ossetia,
crossing the Georgian-Russian border.

Security for the Russian military convoy is being provided by the
Georgian Defense Ministry and Georgian Internal Affairs Ministry
patrol police.

The Russian military equipment is being taken out of the country as
part of an agreement signed on May 30 of this year between the heads
of the Russian and Georgian foreign ministries on removing two Russian
bases (the second one is in Akhalkalaki near the Armenian border) from
Georgia by 2008.