Defense Minister Okruashvili Calls for Fair Elections in S.Ossetia

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili called for fair presidential elections in unrecognized South Ossetian republic, which are scheduled for this November.

“International community should mount certain pressure on Russia in respect to, at least, secure normal local elections in the region [South Ossetia], which as so called government [of breakaway South Ossetia] plans will take place by the end of this year. It is very important for us that those Georgians who live there [in South Ossetia] and who are ousted from there could participate in these elections, as well as those ethnic Ossetians who are in the opposition [to S.Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity],” Okruashvili told reporters on February 17.

He also said that “it is of vital importance for Georgia” to solve the South Ossetian conflict peacefully.