Russian Army Leaves Georgian Buffer Zones

Troops will stay in breakaway regions; EU forces to remain

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 8, 2008 2:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Russian troops have withdrawn from the “buffer zones” that separate the secessionist republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia from the rest of Georgia ahead of Friday's deadline, the BBC reports. Though Russia plans to keep 7,600 troops inside the breakaway republics themselves, the move "paves the way for the resumption of negotiations on an ambitious" EU-Russia partnership, said Nicolas Sarkozy.

Russia has asked that EU monitors deployed to the buffer zones remain as peacekeepers, but has barred them from entering Abkhazia and South Ossetia, so they won’t be able to monitor the Russian forces inside the regions. Speaking at a summit in France, Dmitry Medvedev praised the role of the EU’s role in "finding a peaceful option for overcoming the Caucasus crisis."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev seen at a conference in the French spa city of Evian, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service)

French President Nicholas Sarkozy, foreground, speaks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, as they walk in French spa Evian, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/ RIA Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks at a conference in the French spa city of Evian, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service)

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Russian Army Leaves Georgian Buffer Zones

Troops will stay in breakaway regions; EU forces to remain

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New fury at Russia's formal recognition of breakaway states

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But Russia broke international law, militia committed genocide

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Unarmed patrol allowed near, but not in South Ossetia

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Troops will stay in breakaway regions; EU forces to remain

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Russia • European Union • Georgia • Dmitry Medvedev • Abkhazia • South Ossetia • EU Monitors

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

West to Put Screws to Russia

New fury at Russia's formal recognition of breakaway states

Georgia Is the Victim, So Blame Russia

History reveals Russia as the aggressor

EU Report: Georgia Started War

But Russia broke international law, militia committed genocide

Some Georgians Doubt Russia Means to Leave

Troops build military road even as Friday pullout deadline looms

Russia Lets EU Monitors Into Georgia Buffer Zone

Unarmed patrol allowed near, but not in South Ossetia

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Newser By Users

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