Georgia applauds Russian troop pullout from village near South Ossetia

Georgia applauds Russian troop pullout from village near South Ossetia

2010-10-19 08:07:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

TBILISI, GEORGIA (BNO NEWS) -- Georgia on Monday hailed the Russian troop withdrawal from a Georgian village that borders with South Ossetia, marking the latest development of the Russian-Georgian dispute.

According to RIA Novosti, Georgia deployed its police forces to the area as soon as the Russian troops pulled out from Perevi village, which is located near the border of the former Georgian Republic of South Ossetia.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls this fact a step taken in the right direction. The 'dis-occupying' of each village is very important for Georgia and especially for the people living in these villages," the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said that despite being a positive measure it is only a microscopic step in the obligations that Russia must fulfill, according to Georgia, in line with the ceasefire agreement signed on August 12, 2008.

In August 2008, Russia and Georgia engaged in a five-day war after the Georgian government attempted to bring South Ossetia under its control, a breakaway republic. Russia has since recognized them as well as Abkhazia as an independent state. Nicaragua and Venezuela also recognized both regions as independent too.

This has caused tensions between Georgia and Russia. Such disputes have incremented as Russia has deployed thousands of soldiers and border guards to the two former Georgian republics and has facilitated weaponry too.

On August 11, Russia deployed S-300 missile and air defense systems in Abkhazia, in order to protect the airspace of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia also has military bases in both states.

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