Vladimir Putin - Russia ready to send special troops for joint operations in Pankisi

Russia is ready to send special task forces of the Main Intelligence Agency /GRU/ and Federal Security Service /FSB/ for joint operations with Georgia in the Pankisi Gorge.

According to Vladimir Putin, Russia is ready to offer Georgia any assistance "to suppress activities of destructive groups hiding on Georgia's territories bordering on Russia, such as the Pankisi Gorge." "We are ready to help in any way possible way, both financial and administrative. Our military can provide information support. Both GRU and FSB are ready to participate in joint operations. We are ready for anything," Putin stated at a press conference in Moscow.

When answering a question concerning what Georgia should do to remove the strain in relations with Russia, the President stated: "The answer is simple. Do your best to stop attacks from Georgia's contiguous territories on Russia." The Head of State thanked the Georgia government for the measures taken in the recent months to eliminate some heads of bandit formations and extradite to Russia "those guilty of blowing up houses in Moscow." "Thanks to the Georgian government's courageous standpoint they have been extradited to Moscow's law enforcement agencies," Putin stated.