MOSCOW, November 10 (AVN) - RF Interior Ministry troops will be reduced on 33,000 servicemen in the near future, Colonel-General Vyacheslav Tikhomirov, troops commander, told the Military News Agency.
Tikhomirov commented on the situation at a press-conference after the RF Security Counil Thursday session where state military reforms were discussed.
Mass media have already mentioned the fact that the Interior Ministry troops will be reduced during the servicemen containing ministries reorganisation. But Tikhomirov called the mentioned number of 33,000 people the insignificant reduction for it will not involve combat units but happen within the administrative structures of rear and technical support.
Tikhomirov also mentioned other aspects of Interior Ministry troops reorganisation. Particularly, some motorised units of the Interior Ministry will be deprived of their tasks as well as special forces which secure important state installations and control public oder. The commander gave an example. The 46th separate brigade of operational purposes was recently organised to be permanently stationed in Chechnya. That is to be the first stage of the Interior Ministry troops reorganisation, Tikhomirov said.
He met widows of killed servicemen in Moscow Friday. As many as 640 Interior Ministry troops servicemen perished and 2,200 injured during the North Caucasus anti-terrorist operation, Tikhomirov stressed. Currently more than 40,000 sericemen conduct various combat missions in Chechnya.