ROSTOV-ON-DON, October 29 (RIA Novosti) - The peace-keeping forces operating in Abkhazia (a self-proclaimed republic on Georgian territory) do not interfere in the republic's political situation, Commander of the North Caucasian Military District Alexander Baranov informed RIA Novosti.
As reported earlier, Abkhazian President Vladislav Ardzinba signed an order on a second round of presidential elections.
"This decision has been taken to protect civil rights established in the Constitution, avert threats to the constitutional system of the Abkhazian Republic and settle the political and legal crisis," the document reads.
The peace-keeping contingent of the CIS, completely consisting of Russian soldiers, was deployed in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone in June 1994. The conflict broke out in 1992, when Georgia deprived Abkhazia of the autonomy status, conducting punitive operations in response to Abkhazia's unilaterally proclaiming independence.
