MOSCOW. Nov 16 (Interfax-AVN) - The withdrawal of the Tbilisi garrison of the Russian military force in Transcaucasia started on Thursday, a representative of the forces' command told Interfax-AVN by phone.
"The first train carrying military hardware and property of the Tbilisi garrison departed for the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri, Armenia, on Thursday. Only the headquarters personnel of the Russian military force in Transcaucasia will remain in Tbilisi after December 10," he said.
"The second train will leave Tbilisi for Russia on November 23, the third train will depart for Russia on December 1, and another train to Gyumri is scheduled for December 10," the source said.
All trains will go to Russia through Azerbaijan, which signed an agreement on military cargo transit with Russia, the source said.
"The future location of a task force to replace the restructured headquarters of the Russian military force in Transcaucasia may be Batumi or Akhalkalaki. No decision has yet been made, but it is expected before the end of December, and the task force will be moved," he said.
The agreement between Russia and Georgia provides for the pullout of Russian military bases in 2008.
The decision to withdraw the Tbilisi garrison ahead of time was made because of the volatile situation in the Georgian capital city and the fear of provocative acts against Russian servicemen.