MOSCOW, August 22 (AVN) - The 201st mechanised rifle division permanently stationed in Tajikistan started its planned offices' and warrants' rotation in accordance with Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev's order, the Military News Agency learned on Tuesday.
The rotation is to replace 200 servicemen whose two-year term set by the Russian government expired. The officers are mostly sent to continue service in the regions where they have housing facilities. According to Division Commander Major-General Valentin Orlov, quite a lot of officers from the Kulyab and Kurgan-Tyube units agreed to continue service in the 42nd mechanised rifle division in Chechnya and other 58th army units in the North Caucasus military district. As many as 13 officers entered different academies this year.
The first planned rotation of the division was made in 1993, a source in the General Staff main mobilisation department told the Agency. Then those who served 15 and more years were transferred to internal districts. Later those who served 10 to 15 years were replaced. Beginning from 1996 the 201st division, as all the other Russian units stationed abroad, conducts rotation every two years.