The two Russian bases in Georgia will be closed by 2008. This decision came after years of complaints from Georgia that the bases were an illegal leftover from the Soviet Union days and should be closed immediately. Russia kept the bases open to apply pressure to Georgia to do something about Chechen rebels that were using Georgia for bases. The new Georgian government is less corrupt and more reliable, so the Russians believe that the Georgians will do something about the Chechen rebels on their territory.