During the talks the defense ministers are expected to sign "an Agreement between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia on a joint Russian military base on the territory of the South Ossetian republic," Kuznetsov said.
A similar agreement was signed in Moscow on February 17 with Abkhazia, another former Georgian republic. The agreement is for a 49-year term and can automatically be prolonged at 15-year intervals. ...
The military bases are expected to be built in Gudauta, Abkhazia, and Tskhinval, South Ossetia. Each base is likely to host up to 1,700 servicemen, T-62 tanks, light armored vehicles, S-300 air defense systems and various aircraft.
The size of the force is not a threat. Both bases, I imagine, will mostly be used as a staging base for troops brought in from inside Russia proper. Perhaps equipment without the troops will be based their so troops only have to be trucked or flown in. Call it REFORGEOR, eh?
So logistically, the Russians will be closer to Tbilisi.
