Russian their military units and specialists in the Central African Republic are there “on a perfectly legal basis at the request of the country’s president”, said the official representative for the Russian Foreign, Ministry Maria Zakharova, as quoted by Interfax news agency.

“The Russians’ main task is to train local military personnel in handling weapons and equipment that was supplied to the Central African Republic by the Russian Ministry of Defense on a no-cost basis in late January-early February of this year,” she commented.

Zakharova specified that there are 175 specialists from Russia officially working in the Central African Republic, of which five are military personnel and 170 are civilians.

“Russian weapons and advisors were sent to the Republic during a critical phase of the military-political crisis in order to assist local authorities in the urgent tasks of reforming the security sector and increasing the capability of their military,” says Zakharova.

Zakharova also stressed that the Russians in the Central African Republic are not involved directly in any combat operations, but only are serving to instruct and ensure the professional readiness of local military units. Zakharova reported that the contractual basis for military collaboration between Russia and the Central African Republic is currently being updated and a corresponding agreement is being prepared.

On July 31, three Russian journalists were killed in the Central African Republic.

  Russia, Central African Republic

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