Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 10, 2006 Friday

RUSSIAN ARMY WILL LEAVE GEORGIA IN 2006

General of the Army Alexander Baranov, Caucasus Military District
Commander, says that units of the Russian army will leave Georgia
this year. The initial plans stood for their withdrawal in 2008.

On Russian defense minister’s order, plans of rapid withdrawal have
been run by official Tbilisi. All units, command structures, and
military hardware will leave Georgia for Armenia and Russia over the
next two months. Four railroad echelons will be used in evacuation.
Two will go to Russia and two to the 102nd Russian Military Base in
Armenia.

Most servicemen volunteered for continuation of service in the
Caucasus, Moscow, and Volga-Urals military districts. Some will
retire. Eighty certificates for apartments have been set aside for
them, and 56 flats will be bought for retired officers in Stavropol,
Krasnodar, Mineralnye Vody in the Caucasus, and other cities. The
command promises that not a single officer or warrant officer will
retire without an apartment to live in.

Source: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, November 6, 2006, EV

Translated by A. Ignatkin