MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday that Russia's military contingent in the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will number 1,500 personnel in each republic by the end of the year.
The Russian General Staff had earlier said 3,700 personnel would be deployed in each South Ossetia and Abkhazia to protect the region, but in mid-June Gen. Nikolai Makarov said the figure was "too large" and it would be reduced.
"Presently there are some 1,000 Russian military personnel in Abkhazia and up to 800 in South Ossetia. By the end of the year there will be 1,500 Russian military personnel in each of the republics," Grigory Karasin said during a press conference at RIA Novosti.
Karasin also said Russia has allocated 10 billion rubles ($321.41 mln) to South Ossetia for projects to rebuild infrastructure destroyed during the August war with Georgia.
"The Russian government allocated 10 billion rubles in 2008-2009 for reconstruction projects," Karasin said.
The deputy minister said that some 400 buildings in South Ossetia are currently under construction with the work due to be completed by the end of the year.
Last August's war saw Russian forces expel invading Georgian troops from South Ossetia and force them deep into Georgia amid accusations on both sides of human rights abuses. Russia eventually withdrew from Georgian territory and recognized the independence of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another former Georgian republic, on August 24.
