Russia withdrew its military helicopters from the Central African Republic (CAR), which were sent to that country amid fighting with the rebels. This was reported in the responses of the Russian Foreign Ministry to questions sent to the media for the annual press conference of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The ministry recalled that earlier Russia sent an additional 300 military instructors to the CAR in response to a request from local authorities. In addition, four Mi-8 helicopters, along with crews and service personnel, were dispatched to the African country to ensure the safe conduct of the general elections.
The department clarified that the Russian instructors will remain in the country for now. The decision to withdraw them will be made based on the situation “on the ground” and the opinion of the CAR government. “At the same time, the aforementioned helicopters belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defense have been withdrawn from the territory of the CAR,” the ministry added.
The revival of the insurgency in the CAR was triggered by the presidential and parliamentary elections held on December 27. It was clarified that three armed rebel groups have united in the anti-government “Coalition of Patriots for Change” in order to prevent President Faustin-Archange Touadere from being re-elected for a second term. The former president of the country, Francois Bozizet, is considered the leader of the militants. The government accuses him of attempting a coup.
