SUKHUMI/TBILISI. Dec 2 (Interfax-AVN) - A planned rotation of Russian peacekeepers in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone has been completed.
The 527th separate motorized rifle battalion of the 131st separate Maikop peacekeeping brigade reporting to the North Caucasus military district replaced the 558th separate motorized rifle battalion of the same brigade that had been stationed in the conflict zone for about a year. Nearly 500 servicemen of the 2,000-strong contingent were replaced.
Georgia expects that it will be informed on the end of the rotation in the northern sector of peacekeepers' responsibility zone in a few days. The rotation took place on November 20-30.
"An official statement is likely to be made at a traditional meeting of parties in the Chuburkhindzhi village of Abkhazia's Gali district on Thursday. The meetings involve officials of the command of the collective peacekeeping forces and UN military observers," acting head of the administration of the Georgian peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia Valery Dzhaparidze told Interfax- Military News Agency.
He said that "in accordance with preliminary reports, the rotation went without any problems or violations."
Dzhaparidze pointed out the interest of the Georgian party in obtaining the information. The rotation took place in the area under Abkhazia's control, he said.
Russian peacekeepers have been in the conflict zone since 1994. 96 peacekeepers have been killed and 248 injured over this period of time. The forces' mandate will expire on December 31.