Russia Says it ‘Fully’ Complied with Six-Point Deal

Russia has “fully fulfilled” its commitments undertaken under the six-point ceasefire accord, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on August 29.

“Russian forces have been pulled backed and some Russian peacekeeping forces remain in the security zone adjacent to South Ossetia,” it said.

Not only are Russian forces in the so-called buffer zone between the town of Gori and the administrative border with South Ossetia, but there are also several stationary Russian military outposts at the entrance to the port town of Poti and the town of Senaki, both deep inside west Georgia proper.

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement fails to even mention these posts. Anatoly Nogovitsin, the deputy chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, however, said at a news conference in Moscow on August 23 that Russia had no intention of withdrawing from those areas.

“Poti is not within the zone of security, but it does not at all mean that we will be sitting beyond the fence and just looking at how they [Georgian servicemen] drive Humvees and move munitions around in trucks; are we supposed to just count them?” he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement was made in response to a joint G7 statement made on August 27, condemning Russia’s decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“This step [by the G7] is biased and is aimed at justifying the aggressive actions of Georgia,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

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