Russian soldiers on top of tanks on the way to Tskhinvali, August 10, 2008
Photo: Valery Melnikov
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Russian Forces Leave Georgia
Russian peacekeepers are dismantling their posts in the security zone around South Ossetia. According to the most recent information, they have already removed the major checkpoints around Gori. The information and public relations service of the Russian Infantry Forces reports that Russia is thus meeting its fulfilling the agreement reached earlier that it leave Georgia by October 10.
Observers from the European Union have called the dismantling of the checkpoints in the area of Ali, northwest of Gori, the first clear sign that Russia intends to fulfill its obligations to remove its peacekeepers. Under the agreement signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russian peacekeepers are to leave the so-called buffer zone within ten days after EU observers’ mission arrives. Their presence was a condition set by Russia for the withdrawal of its forces.
About 350 representatives of the European Union arrived in Georgia on October 1, 200 of whom are observers and 150 of whom are service personnel. After the explosion that took place in Tskhinvali on October 3 near the Russian peacekeepers’ headquarters, some media suggested that the incident could be used by Russia as a cause to delay the withdrawal of its forces. Nine Russian servicemen, including head of the peacekeeping staff Ivan Petrik, died in that blast.
www.kommersant.com
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