Under the agreement that Russia and Georgia signed on March 31, Russian troops are to leave Georgia's two Soviet-era military bases - Akhalkalaki and Batumi - by 2008. The pullout from Akhalkalaki in the south of the country is to be completed by December 2006.
"On Thursday, we relocated operative groups and maintenance subdivisions to the Tsalka railway station [in eastern Georgia]," said Gen. Alexander Baranov, commander of Russia's North Caucasus troops.
He said the first train with the troops and equipment would be loaded on May 13-14 and would head for Russia via Georgia and Azerbaijan on May 15.
Russia has a common border with both Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Baranov said the other echelons would depart on May 23, 25 and 30.
He also said that some materiel would be redeployed at Russia's Gyumri base in Armenia, which borders Georgia.
"On May 18, the first convoy with ammunition will set off, and on May 23 the first convoy of tracked and automobile vehicles will follow," Baranov said.
