Russian Military Equipment Withdrawal Delayed

The launch of the withdrawal of a part of Russian armored vehicles from the military base in Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic has been postponed indefinitely, said Deputy Commander of the Headquarters of the Russian Troops in the Trans Caucasus, Col. Vladimir Kuparadze on July 29.

The withdrawal was scheduled to get underway on July 29

?The reason for the delay is the absence of visas for the drivers who then [after the withdrawal of armored vehicles] are to return to Georgia,? Col. Kuparadze said, as quoted by the Interfax news agency.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov told reporters in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski on July 28 that Russia is concerned about the Georgian Foreign Ministry?s refusal to issue entry visas to Russian servicemen deployed at the military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki.
 
But Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Davit Sikharulidze dismissed the accusations as ?groundless? and ?untrue.? He told reporters that Russian servicemen have been issued all the necessary documentation by the Georgian side.

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