Russian ships move military equipment out of Georgia

10/ 08/ 2005

TBILISI, August 10 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) – Russian
amphibious assault ships have arrived at the port of Batumi, the
capital of the Georgian autonomous republic of Adzharia, to move
equipment out of the Russian military base there, a spokesman for
Georgian Defense Ministry said.

Military personnel from Russia’s 12th military base in Batumi will
load the ships with 40 tanks and armored personnel carriers, 12 Krug
air defense systems and three Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled
guns.

The move is in accordance with the joint declaration signed by the
Georgian and Russian foreign ministers in Moscow in May that calls for
Russia’s closure of its military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, on
the Georgian-Armenian border.

The majority of equipment at Akhalkalaki will be sent to Russia. The
remainder is scheduld for redeployment to the Russian military base in
Gumri, Armenia.