U.S. Calls on South Ossetia to Release Georgian Hostages

The Russian NTV television station broadcast this footage, showing the detained Georgian soldiers kneeling at gunpoint in Tskhinvali. The U.S. condemned this”deplorable” treatment of the Georgian hostages.

The U.S. State Department condemned the detention, on July 8, of Georgian peacekeepers by the authorities of the unrecognized South Ossetian authorities.

“We call on the South Ossetian authorities to release the hostages immediately and to avoid further, violent provocations,” Richard Boucher, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said at a news briefing in Washington D.C. on July 8.

The South Ossetian forces disarmed and detained around 50 Georgian peacekeepers deployed in the Georgian village of Vanati, that lies within the conflict zone.

“We understand that the hostages were forcibly lined up and displayed on their knees before a large demonstration in the South Ossetian capital city [Tskhinvali]. We condemn the taking of these hostages by South Ossetian forces and think their treatment has been deplorable,” Richard Boucher said.
 
He also said that the United States is encouraging all sides to work towards the immediate release of the hostages and to take steps to reduce tensions between the two sides.

“Secretary of State [Colin] Powell spoke with Georgia’s Prime Minister, Mr. [Zurab] Zhvania, this morning. He also plans to speak to his Russian counterpart, [Foreign Minister] Minister [Sergei] Lavrov, today. He is trying to urge both sides to resolve this through dialogue,” the U.S. State Department spokesman said.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)