18 August 2008, 12:55
Georgia does not confirm that Russian troops are leaving
Russia has announced the start of withdrawal of her military contingent from Georgia, however, the Georgian party has not confirmed the start of this process.
Russian armed forces have started to leave Tskhinvali in small groups, however, there is no data about any withdrawal of Russian units out of the main part of Georgia.
"Russia has begun to withdraw her military contingent from Georgia according to the 'Medvedev-Sarkozy' plan," said Anatoly Nogovitsyn, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of Russian Armed Forces, in the press conference in Moscow.
As of today's midday, there are no indications about any withdrawal of Russian troops deployed in the essential part of Georgia. This was stated by the IA "News-Georgia" with reference to Shota Utiashvili, head of the information-analytical department of Georgia's MIA.
According to operative data of the Georgian party, Russian regular troops are controlling the zones of the Abkhazian and South-Ossetian conflicts, and a significant number of villages and roads in the adjacent areas. Also, Russian military units have not been taken away from Gori.
President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, who acted as mediator in settling the conflict in South Ossetia, has threatened to convoke an extraordinary sitting of the EU Board should Russia break the condition of immediate withdrawal of her troops from Georgia. In Mr Sarkozy's opinion, this point is beyond any debate and refers all the Russian armed forces introduced into the territory of Georgia, starting from August 7.
