ROSTOV-ON-DON, February 16 (AVN) - Colonel-General Gennady Troshev, North Caucasus military district commander, said on Friday there would be no indistriminate troops withdrawal from Chechnya.
The withdrawal will start in spring, and unnecessary armament is the first to leave the the turbulent republic, Troshev told a news conference.
In addition to Interior Ministry units, the federal command decided to leave the 42nd motorised rifle division numbering about 15,000 people, commandant companies and Chechen rifle companies in the area of operation, Troshev went on. "Chechens should start assuming the reins of government right now, they should set up their own police, prosecutor's office, special quick response units capable to establish order in the republic," Troshev stressed.
There is still a possibility of terrorist acts, Troshev said. However rebels have neither forces nor means to oppose federal troops efficiently, Troshev added.