(Source: Daily News Bulletin; Moscow - English)
MOSCOW. Oct 10 (Interfax) - Russia started deploying its military contingents in Abkhazia and South Ossetia under an understanding on the formation of military bases there, a high-ranking military diplomat in Moscow told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
"The personnel and property of the bases is being deployed in the two republics. The entire necessary infrastructure is also being unfolded," the source said.
Under the understanding Russia will deploy military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia with personnel of 3,800 each.
The source said that the Russian military base in South Ossetia will be stationed in Tskhinvali and Java, and the one in Abkhazia in Gudauty and Ochamchira.
"The deployment of Russian military contingents in the two republics is unrelated to peacekeeping. They [the bases] are formed in response to an appeal by the lawful authorities of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to Russia," the source said.
Asked about the future of Russian peacekeeping contingents in Abkhazia and South Ossetia the source said: "There are no plans of withdrawing them from the conflict zones."
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