Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said on October 10 that the entire garrison of the Group of Russian Troops in Transcaucasus stationed in Tbilisi will leave Georgia ahead of schedule, RIA Novosti news agency reported.  

“I have made a decision and signed an order which calls for the early pullout of the Tbilisi garrison, consisting of 387 Russian servicemen and 484 civilians,” the Russian Defense Minister said.

He also said that almost 300 of the civilians are Georgian citizens who will simply lose their jobs and Russian salaries.

“Our servicemen cannot stay in Tbilisi because of the ‘wise’ policy of the Georgian authorities,” Ivanov said.

The Russian Defense Minister reiterated that two Russian military bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi will be withdrawn in strict compliance with the schedule – in 2007 and 2008, respectively.