29 July 2008, 16:41
Withdrawal of Russian railway troops from Abkhazia starts
Russia has started to withdraw its railway troops from Abkhazia which it located there upon the request of Abkhazia authorities on May 31 for restoring the 55 km railway at the section Sukhum-Ochamchira.
Guram Gubaz, chief of the Abkhazia railway department, reports that the first train started for Russia during the night of July 30 from the Dranda settlement near Sukhumi where the railway military units were temporarily located. "A security unit of Russian railway troops, about 200 solders strong, has left for its permanent location in Stavropol krai ", said Gubaz.
According to Gubaz, additional 200 military specialists are going to be withdrawn during the day of July 30 after an official ceremony of commissioning the repaired railway section from Sukhumi to Ochamchir. He also says that lieutenant-general Sergei Klimets, railway troops commander, is expected to come to Abkhazia for taking part in the official commissioning ceremony, reports "Interfax" agency.
RIA "Novosti" notes that the work on restoring the railway has been completed early. Originally it was planned to complete restoration by August 6.
