02 September 2008, 12:54
Georgia has officially broken diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation
Tonight, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Russian adviser-envoy Andrei Smaga was served a note on break of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
On August 29, Georgia adopted a decision to break diplomatic relations with Russia, thus putting the statement adopted on August 28 by Parliament of Georgia "On Occupation by the Russian Federation of the Territory of Georgia" into practice.
"From my point of view, it's another mistake made by the Georgian party, which in no way helps in settling the problem that exists here," said Mr Smaga after receiving the note.
After termination of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia, three Georgian diplomats will remain in Moscow - a consul and two vice-consuls. All the other Georgian diplomats now working in the Georgian embassy in Moscow will get back to Tbilisi, said the Georgian MFA as the IA "News-Georgia" reports.
General-Colonel Anatoly Nogovitsyn, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of Russian Armed Forces, has stated today that Russia has complete withdrawal of its troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia to the places of permanent disposition.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has confirmed today that there are no Russian troops in Georgia, including the city of Poti. "No troops from Russia are present in the territory of Georgia, only peacekeeping forces stay there," said Mr Putin in Tashkent in answer to journalists' questions.
