TBILISI, August 10 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) - Russian amphibious assault ships have arrived at the port of Batumi, the capital of the Georgian autonomous republic of Adzharia, to move equipment out of the Russian military base there, a spokesman for Georgian Defense Ministry said.
Military personnel from Russia's 12th military base in Batumi will load the ships with 40 tanks and armored personnel carriers, 12 Krug air defense systems and three Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled guns.
The move is in accordance with the joint declaration signed by the Georgian and Russian foreign ministers in Moscow in May that calls for Russia's closure of its military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, on the Georgian-Armenian border.
The majority of equipment at Akhalkalaki will be sent to Russia. The remainder is scheduld for redeployment to the Russian military base in Gumri, Armenia.
