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Georgia demands Russian peacekeepers' withdrawal from Abkhazia

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Georgia asked the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on Monday to end Russia's peacekeeping mandate in Abkhazia, one of the two rebel regions that Moscow has recognized as independent, the Foreign Ministry said.
TBILISI, September 1 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia asked the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on Monday to end Russia's peacekeeping mandate in Abkhazia, one of the two rebel regions that Moscow has recognized as independent, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said Georgia's ambassador to Belarus, David Zankaliani, handed a note to the Minsk-based executive committee of the post Soviet alliance, from which Georgia withdrew during the recent conflict with Russia.

"Georgia has made a decision to end the CIS peacekeeping operation in Abkhazia, which was taking place on the basis of a decision taken by Commonwealth members' presidents in 2003," the ministry said.

Georgian Prime Minister Vladimir Gurgenidze signed on August 29 an instruction for Georgia to withdraw from all peacekeeping agreements with the CIS and with Russia.

Russia officially recognized the Georgian breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26, saying the move was needed to protect the regions following Georgia's military offensive on August 8 in which hundreds of civilians died and thousands were forced to flee.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced on August 12 that the country was pulling out of the Russian-dominated Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Georgian parliament approved the decision two days later.

The CIS now comprises Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikstan and Uzbekistan.

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