Parliament extends mandate of Russian military presence in zone of Georgian-Abkhazian conflict

The Federation Council - the Russian parliament's upper house - has extended the mandate of a 3,000-strong contingent of the Russian federal forces as part of the collective peacekeeping forces in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict until December 31st. This decision was taken by the Federation Council majority of votes on Wednesday - 142 senators.

The Federation Council considered the Russian President's relevant proposal, submitted to the Federation Council late in November, concerning the extension of the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping forces contingent in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. The discussions of the resolution were held by the Federation Council in the "open regime". Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin participated in the discussions.