RUSSIAN GARRISON LEAVING TBILISI AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.11.2006 18:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The withdrawal of the military equipment and property
of the Tbilisi garrison of the Group of Russian Troops in Transcaucasus
(GRVZ) was launched on Thursday. The garrison leaves Tbilisi ahead
of schedule by decision of the Russian Ministry of Defense. "Today
the first railway echelon with military equipment and property of the
Tbilisi garrison headed for Armenia to the military base in Gyumri,"
the GRVZ headquarters said. The next echelon will be sent November
23 to Russia via Azerbaijan.

Till the end of the current year 4 echelons with the GRVZ military
equipment and property will be sent to Russia and Armenia. In all
387 servicemen, some 100 elements of equipment and some 350 tons of
property and ammunition will be withdrawn.

The headquarters informed that the schedule was coordinated with the
Georgian side which is ensuring the security of the measure. A number
of GRVZ officers will form a group to stay in Georgia and control
the withdrawal process. In compliance with the agreement the Russian
base in Akhalkalaki should be closed till October 1, 2007 while the
base in Batumi till October 1, 2008, reports RIA Novosti.