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TBILISI GARRISON CEASED TO EXIST: RUSSIAN FORCES QUIT GEORGIA AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
by Albert Yeremyan
Source: Gazeta, December 25, 2006, p. 2
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 27, 2006 Wednesday
WITHDRAWAL OF THE TBILISI GARRISON AND THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE GROUP OF
RUSSIAN FORCES IN TRANSCAUCASIA IS ACCOMPLISHED; Two last automobiles
of the Tbilisi garrison go to the Armenian city of Gyumri today to
the Russian military base located there. Major General Andrei Popov,
commander of the group of Russian forces in Transcaucasia, departs
from Tbilisi to Russia today too.
Two last automobiles of the Tbilisi garrison go to the Armenian city
of Gyumri today to the Russian military base located there. Major
General Andrei Popov, commander of the group of Russian forces in
Transcaucasia, departs from Tbilisi to Russia today too.
Popov said, "The Tbilisi garrison of the Russian forces ceased to exist
today. This is another step towards fulfillment of the agreement on
withdrawal of troops from the territory of Georgia.
Thus, now we only have to evacuate a part of armament and aircraft
of the 62nd military base by 2007 and to fully withdraw the military
base from Batumi until the end of 2008."
Withdrawal of Russian forces from Tbilisi was accomplished two years
earlier than it had been planned.
Last Saturday, commander of the group of Russian forces in
Transcaucasia Andrei Popov and Deputy Defense Minister of Georgia
Levan Nikoleishvili signed an act of handing over and acceptance of
the Russian military objects in Tbilisi to the Georgian party in the
Defense Ministry of Georgia.
Georgia received real estate of the headquarters of the group
of Russian forces in Transcaucasia including the building of the
headquarters, a military hospital and two depots.
Since November, armament of the Tbilisi garrison (more than 170
units) was partially moved to the military base in Gyumri and was
partially delivered to Russia via Azerbaijan in two trains. More than
380 Russian servicemen and 350 tons of materiel and ammunition were
withdrawn from the Tbilisi garrison.
Vladimir Kuparadze, deputy commander of the group of Russian forces
in Transcaucasia, says that only an operational group consisting of
13 Russian officers will remain in Georgia. Today, the group will
go from Tbilisi to Batumi where they will watch withdrawal of the
Russian bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki. Russian officers will have
one-year visas necessary for continuation of work on the territory of
Georgia. Popov states that for settlement of current issues with the
Georgian colleagues dealing with withdrawal of these Russian bases
he will arrive to Tbilisi once a month according to invitation of
the Defense Ministry of Georgia.
According to the agreement between the defense ministries of Georgia
and Russia, the process of withdrawal of the Russian military bases
has to be accomplished until the end of 2008. After that Russia will
have only one military base left in the South Caucasus in Armenian
city of Gyumri.
by Albert Yeremyan
Source: Gazeta, December 25, 2006, p. 2
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 27, 2006 Wednesday
WITHDRAWAL OF THE TBILISI GARRISON AND THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE GROUP OF
RUSSIAN FORCES IN TRANSCAUCASIA IS ACCOMPLISHED; Two last automobiles
of the Tbilisi garrison go to the Armenian city of Gyumri today to
the Russian military base located there. Major General Andrei Popov,
commander of the group of Russian forces in Transcaucasia, departs
from Tbilisi to Russia today too.
Two last automobiles of the Tbilisi garrison go to the Armenian city
of Gyumri today to the Russian military base located there. Major
General Andrei Popov, commander of the group of Russian forces in
Transcaucasia, departs from Tbilisi to Russia today too.
Popov said, "The Tbilisi garrison of the Russian forces ceased to exist
today. This is another step towards fulfillment of the agreement on
withdrawal of troops from the territory of Georgia.
Thus, now we only have to evacuate a part of armament and aircraft
of the 62nd military base by 2007 and to fully withdraw the military
base from Batumi until the end of 2008."
Withdrawal of Russian forces from Tbilisi was accomplished two years
earlier than it had been planned.
Last Saturday, commander of the group of Russian forces in
Transcaucasia Andrei Popov and Deputy Defense Minister of Georgia
Levan Nikoleishvili signed an act of handing over and acceptance of
the Russian military objects in Tbilisi to the Georgian party in the
Defense Ministry of Georgia.
Georgia received real estate of the headquarters of the group
of Russian forces in Transcaucasia including the building of the
headquarters, a military hospital and two depots.
Since November, armament of the Tbilisi garrison (more than 170
units) was partially moved to the military base in Gyumri and was
partially delivered to Russia via Azerbaijan in two trains. More than
380 Russian servicemen and 350 tons of materiel and ammunition were
withdrawn from the Tbilisi garrison.
Vladimir Kuparadze, deputy commander of the group of Russian forces
in Transcaucasia, says that only an operational group consisting of
13 Russian officers will remain in Georgia. Today, the group will
go from Tbilisi to Batumi where they will watch withdrawal of the
Russian bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki. Russian officers will have
one-year visas necessary for continuation of work on the territory of
Georgia. Popov states that for settlement of current issues with the
Georgian colleagues dealing with withdrawal of these Russian bases
he will arrive to Tbilisi once a month according to invitation of
the Defense Ministry of Georgia.
According to the agreement between the defense ministries of Georgia
and Russia, the process of withdrawal of the Russian military bases
has to be accomplished until the end of 2008. After that Russia will
have only one military base left in the South Caucasus in Armenian
city of Gyumri.