The reduction of the Group of Russian Troops in Transcaucasus (GRVZ) is conditioned by the withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia, said chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense Alexey Sigutkin. The decision of reformation of the GRVZ was taken over the change of tasks of the Russian military contingent in Georgia. The most important task now is to secure the withdrawal of troops from Georgia to Russia," the deputy said. In his opinion, from January 1 2008 the necessity of deployment of the Russian operative group in Georgia will drop off. "Russian troops will remain in Armenia. It will be Armenian but not Transcaucasian group of troops," he said.

According to GRVZ commander Andrey Popov, an operative group of 13 military will be deployed either in Akhalkalaki or Batumi. The 102nd Russian military base in Armenia numbers 3000 servicemen. The term of stay is 25 years, reports Rosbalt.