MOSCOW, February 22 (AVN) - The Russian border guard troops in the Arctic, Kaliningrad, North-Western and Far Eastern regions and in the Pacific will be reduced by 15-30 percent by 2005, Colonel-General Nikolai Reznichenko, first deputy director of the Federal Border Guard Service and FBGS chief-of-staff, told the Military News Agency on Thursday.
The reduction will be carried out within the framework of Russia's law enforcement reform. According to Reznichenko, it will affect mainly command and control elements, including the service's central administrative bodies. Part of authority will fall down on the regional departments, while the units will be considerably strengthened. This is especially true about the North Caucasus, Central Asian, Far Eastern and Tajik border guard groups.
As many as 10 detachments and 11 checkpoints have been set on the Kazakh border strap, that experiences increased drug trafficking and illegal migration. Protection here is due to be doubled in the months to come, Reznichenko said.
Moreover, the border guard troops will rid of lots of military and specialist vehicles and equipment whose border protection function proved useless and uneconomic. The money saved will be spent on technical re-equipment of the troops and command elements.
Speaking on the situation in Central Asia, Reznichenko said that the Russian border guards deployed on the right bank of the Panj river could be substantially augmented if the corresponding agreement with Tajik leadership was reached.