Moscow Concerned Over Situation in Breakaway South Ossetia

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement on June 1 regarding the situation in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia that warned that Tbilisi’s “provocative steps” might lead “to extremely negative consequences.”

“Despite assurance from Tbilisi, some provocative actions are being carried out in the conflict zone, triggered by the Georgian authorities,” the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement reads.

Moscow also warned Tbilisi that Georgia’s central government will be responsible in the case of further deterioration of the situation and “bloodshed” in the region.

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement follows the visit of Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Roelofs to the conflict zone, which was marred by disputes with the local self-styled authorities.

Sandra Roelofs, who visited Georgian villages in breakaway South Ossetia on the first of June, had to arrive there by helicopter after her car was barred from entering the region by the South Ossetian authorities.

The June 1 statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry was the second in as many days regarding the situation in the Ossetian conflict zone. On May 31, Moscow protested the brief deployment of an additional unit of Georgian internal troops to the conflict zone.