Russian Ambassador to the Central African Republic Vladimir Titorenko commented on the information about the alleged transfer of hundreds of Russian troops to the CAR.
On December 21, the newspaper Le Figaro wrote with reference to the representative of the CAR government Anzhi Maxim Kazagi that after the uprising, Russia sent hundreds of soldiers to the country, as well as military equipment.
According to Titorenko, there are no Russian military personnel in the African country except for five employees of the Russian defense ministry’s office in Bangui.
“But there are instructors working here who train the CAR army at the request of the government of this country. They are periodically rotated. And this is well known both to the UN Security Council and to the entire world community, “RIA Novosti quoted him on December 21.
Titorenko added that there are 14 Russian officers serving in the UN peacekeeping mission – MINURCA.
On the eve of the Russian President’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mikhail Bogdanov said that there is no coup in the Central African Republic, but the destructive forces intend to disrupt the upcoming elections in the CAR. In addition, he stressed that the Russian side complies with all the requirements of the UN Security Council resolution on the CAR.
Earlier in December, it became known that the rebels in the CAR formed an anti-government “Coalition of Patriots for Change” to oppose the country’s President Faustin-Archange Touadere. The rebels have occupied the city of Mbayki and reportedly may threaten a blockade of the city of Bangui, the capital of the CAR.