The troops are pulling out from undisputed Georgian territory, where they have been deployed since a five-day conflict between Russia and Georgia, triggered after Tbilisi launched an attack on breakaway South Ossetia in August. Russia's response to Georgia attack on the breakaway region was condemned by the international community as "disproportionate."
"I want to inform all those present that Russia's peacekeeping contingent will pull out from the security zones near South Ossetia and Abkhazia by midnight tonight," Medvedev said speaking at the World Policy Conference in the French town of Evian.
Moscow earlier pledged to pull back its troops from Georgia within 10 days after the deployment of EU observers in the buffer zones adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Georgian secessionist regions recognized by Russia and Nicaragua.
A contingent of 200 European Union observers from 22 member states began a mission to monitor the troop withdrawal in Georgia on October 1.
Medvedev said Russia would like the EU to act as a guarantor for the non use of force and prevent further tensions in the region, adding that the reasons for the conflict had already been given in full.
The French president Nicolas Sarkozy said Georgia's invasion of South Ossetia was a mistake, but said he considered Russia's response "disproportionate."
"I believe that the reaction of Russian forces to Georgia's attack was disproportionate... yes, there was a military invasion by Georgia, and it was a mistake," Sarkozy told the conference.
He said France opposed any sanctions against Russia. "Many in Europe called for sanctions, but I am telling you we are for dialogue," Sarkozy said, and cautioned that "Both sides must refrain from any provocation on the ground."
"The Georgian crisis became another stumbling block between Europe and Russia," Sarkozy said.
