First Russian Military Convoy Leaves Georgia

A convoy of nine Russian military vehicles crossed Georgia?s northern border and moved into Russia on August 1 after a more than a two-day journey from the Russian military base in Batumi in southwest Georgia.

The convoy, which is the first to leave the country after the Foreign Ministers of Georgia and Russia agreed on the withdrawal of the two Russian bases remaining in the country, was the focus of the Georgian media?s attention during the long trip.

The convoy moved slowly with frequent breaks to repair vehicles, which according to the Georgian side were in a poor condition.

Vehicles left the Batumi base early on July 30, as dozens of locals saw the convoy off with flowers and champagne.

According to the agreement reached by Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers in Moscow on May 30, at least 40 armored vehicles, including no less than 20 tanks, are to be withdrawn from the bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki by September 1, 2005. The entire withdrawal process should be finished by 2008.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)