A convoy of Russian military hardware and other equipment left the Georgian capital Thursday en route to a base in Armenia.

The convoy — the first from the Russian forces’ central military garrison in Tbilisi — was pulled ahead of schedule, said a deputy commander overseeing Russian forces in the country, who asked that his name not be used since he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Nearly 390 personnel, more than 100 pieces of military vehicles and some 350 tons of weapons and other equipment will be withdrawn by year’s end, the official said.

After months of contentious negotiations, Georgia and Russia reached agreement last year on pulling Russian forces out of two bases, which both are scheduled to be fully closed by October 2008. Much of the equipment was to be shipped to the Russian base at Gyumri, Armenia. The closure affected some 3,000-4,000 Russian troops at the bases.

Relations between the two countries have plummeted in recent months as Georgia accuses Russia of supporting separatists, and Russia fears Georgia is moving further out of its shadow toward the West.

Interfax said the equipment was pulled out of the Tbilisi garrison ahead of schedule due to the tense state of relations.

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