MOSCOW. March 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Interior Ministry Force will lay off 7,000 people in 2004," Army General Vyacheslav Tikhomirov, commander-in-chief of the force, said on Friday.
"We will be able to reduce the total strength of our forces by 7,000 servicemen this year under gradual reduction plans. The Interior Ministry Force will have laid off a total of 32,000 people before 2005," Tikhomirov told a news conference.
In response to a question from Interfax-Military News Agency, he said that the force was already reduced by 21,000 people from 2000 to 2003. "The Interior Ministry Force will adopt a new establishment before the end of 2005, they will be transferred from the divisional to brigade basis," Tikhomirov said.