Russian soldiers in Georgia didn't get any red-alert orders

Russia's Trans-Caucasian group of forces and its military bases in Georgia are operating as usual, Col. Alexander Lutskevich, chief of the group's press center, said.

We didn't receive any red alert orders whatsoever; the domestic Georgian political situation doesn't concern us in any way, he said. All we did was to suggest that fewer Russian servicemen leave their bases, Lutskevich noted.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said the other day in Yerevan that Russian servicemen on Georgian territory won't become involved in local political developments in any way.

This is absolutely out of the question; no orders were issued in this connection, Ivanov said. Russian servicemen can use their weapons only if attacked, he added. Still I don't think anyone will conceive this scenario, Ivanov said in conclusion.