The Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) of the CSTO have started the final stage of the Vzaimodeystviye-2012 military drills at the Marshal Bagramyan Range in the Armavir Region of Armenia, RIA Novosti reports.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha, Armenian and Russian Defense Ministers Seyran Oganyan and Anatoly Serdyukov, heads of diplomatic missions of Armenia, UN and OSCE observers are attending the drills.
The military drills started on September 15 with about 2,500 soldiers of Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan taking part. The International Red Cross Committee attends the drills. Kyrgyzstan is not involved in the process. Tajikistan sent observers. About 500 vehicles, 50 artillery guns, 200 cars, 1500 small arms and drones were mobilized.
Major-General Anatoly Yakovlev, Commander of the CSTO Joint Staff, said that Armenia was split into three territories, according to the scenario. The CSTO forces practice protection of the Caucasus Region. The final stage will focus on counter-terrorism operations.
