Georgian Capital Without A Russian Soldier First Time Since 1799

GEORGIAN CAPITAL WITHOUT A RUSSIAN SOLDIER FIRST TIME SINCE 1799

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
December 24, 2006 Sunday 10:15 PM EST

Russia will complete the withdrawal of military personnel from its
former Tbilisi garrison on Monday. The last two vehicles will leave
Tbilisi for a Russian base in Gyumri, Armenia, an officer with the
headquarters of the Russian army group in Transcaucasia told Tass.

All the garrison facilities including the headquarter buildings have
been already transferred to Georgia while military equipment has been
moved to Gyumri.

Thirteen Russian officers who were to remain until the closure of two
Russian bases in Georgia will leave for Batumi on Monday. The bases
in Akhalkalaki and Batumi are scheduled to be closed by October 2008.

>>From December 25, the Georgian capital will remain without a
single Russian soldier for the first time since November 25, 1799
when Russian General Ivan Lazarev, upon agreement between Russian and
Georgian Tsars, brought here two chasseur regiments from Ossetia to
protect Tiflis (Tbilisi) from foreign invaders.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS