High-Profile Arrests Reported in Breakaway South Ossetia

(Tbilisi, July 1, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Reports say today de facto South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoev arrested chiefs of special purposes units of the Defense and Security Ministries. Security Minister of the breakaway region escaped the arrest.

Unofficial reports say that chief of the special purpose unite of the Security Ministry was wounded during the arrest, however de facto authorities of South Ossetia deny the shootout in Tskhinvali, capital of the unrecognized republic.

Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 TV channel reported that Kokoev sacked Secretary of the Security Council, Defense Minister, Justice Minister and the chief of customs department.

The reports say that the high-profile arrests in Georgia?s breakaway region took place after the arrival of de facto President Kokoev from Moscow late on June 30.

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