Good riddance

Tbilisi, Georgia

Russia agreed this week to withdraw its remaining troops from Georgian territory by the end of 2008. Russia still has two military bases and 3,000 soldiers left over from the days when Georgia was a Soviet republic. Ever since Georgia gained independence in 1991, it has demanded that the Russians go home. But Russia, which considers Georgia part of its sphere of influence, kept delaying, saying it needed more time to prepare housing for the returning soldiers. Finally this year, the Georgian parliament voted unanimously to refuse Russians entry visas unless the troops withdraw, forcing Moscow to set a deadline.

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