Russia/Georgia

Russian forces pull out from buffer zones

Article published on the 2008-10-08 Latest update 2008-10-08 18:05 TU

Russian troops get ready to leave the checkpoint near the Georgian village of Nadarbazevi, some 60km west of Tbilisi
(Photo: Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili)

Russian forces began to pull out from buffer zones around Georgia's breakaway areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. By midday on Wednesday checkpoints at Karaleti and Variani had been abandoned by Russian soldiers.

The deadline for a complete withdrawal is Friday 10 October. 

"Today we started the practical realisation of the agreement between the French and Russian presidents," said Russian peacekeeping chief, Marat Kulakhmetov.

Correspondent Régis Genté said machines were removing concrete installations in Karaleti. He spoke to residents of Shindisi, one of whom told him, "Of course we are happy to see the Russians leave. They're not supposed to be here."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev confirmed Wednesday that the withdrawal was underway.

"By midnight tonight, the evacuation of Russian troops will be complete", he said. He was speaking from the French town of Evian ahead of his address to to the World Policy Conference which closes Wednesday.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the conference that Medvedev had "kept his word". The current freeze on EU-Russian negotiations is due to be reviewed at an EU-Russia summit in November in Nice.