Russia Begins Withdrawal of Troops from Chechnya

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 06, 2003

Russia Begins Withdrawal of Troops from Chechnya

Russia began to pull some troops out of Chechnya on Wednesday as a symbol of stability in the republic ahead of a constitutional referendum scheduled for March 23.

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Russia began to pull some troops out of Chechnya on Wednesday as a symbol of stability in the republic ahead of a constitutional referendum scheduled for March 23.

Deputy Defense Minister Igor Puzanov and North Caucasus army group commander Lieutenant-General Sergei Makarov attended a special farewell ceremony held on Wednesday at the railway stationin Khankala, near the Chechen capital of Grozny, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Monday the withdrawalof 1,270 servicemen and some 200 pieces of military equipment froman engineering battalion, an artillery and rocket battalion, and Interior Ministry troops, from Chechnya.

It was the first troop cut in Chechnya since Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced in November that Moscow was suspending a planned withdrawal from Chechnya in the wake of a rebel hostage-taking raid on a Moscow theater and alleged new terrorist threats.

Russian military officials have said about 80,000 troops are deployed in Chechnya.

Ivanov said on Tuesday that the slight reduction of troop numbers in Chechnya would not affect the republic's security.

He said 30,000 to 35,000 servicemen would remain in Chechnya ona temporary basis, along with the 42nd Army Division and 46th Interior Brigade, which are permanently stationed there.

Ivanov also said 20 percent of the military checkpoints, which are set up on roads throughout the republic, would be closed.

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