Tskhinvali Accuses Georgian Side of Shelling

The South Ossetian side accused the Georgian forces of shelling the Ossetian village of Kverneti overnight on October 25. However, the Georgian side denies accusations and claims that the South Ossetian forces were first to open fire.

“Ossetian village of Kverneti, which is populated only up to 20 residents, mainly children and elderly people, came under fire opened from the Georgian village of Achabeti, where 50 Georgian peacekeepers are stationed. The South Ossetian Interior Ministry’s forces had to undertake action in response to protect the village of Kverneti,” the statement issued by the Press and Information Department of the unrecognized South Ossetian Republic on October 25 reads.

The South Ossetian Press and Information Committee also reported that the chairman of the unrecognized republic’s government Igor Sanakoev held a special meeting of the power ministers to discuss “increased number of shelling of Ossetian villages from the Georgian positions.”

Earlier on October 25 Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava said that the Georgian village of Achabeti came under shelling after the South Ossetian forces opened fire overnight on October 25.