Russian Official Calls Georgia to Take Decision on Peacekeepers’ Mandate

(Tbilisi, February 1, Civil Georgia) – Situation concerning the Russian peacekeeping troops in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone “is fairly tense,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov briefed President Vladimer Putin on January 31, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reports.

“The Georgian side must fundamentally decide whether the mandate of the peacekeeping forces is to be extended, and with what status,” Sergei Ivanov stated after meeting with the Russian President.

Russian peacekeepers’ mandate expired on December 31 2001.