OSCE Condemns Detention of Georgian Peacekeepers in South Ossetia

Solomon Passy, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-in-Office, expressed grave concerns on July 8 over recent developments in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict and called for the immediate release of the Georgian citizens detained by South Ossetian armed units.

“I strongly denounce this morning’s detention of Georgian citizens by South Ossetian armed units in the zone of conflict,” Solomon Passy said in a statement issued on July 8.

“I consider this to be an extremely dangerous step and I urge the South Ossetian authorities to release the detainees immediately,” he added.

The Chairman?in-Office discussed the current situation in South Ossetia and the role of the OSCE in helping with resolving this crisis with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, during a phone conversation on July 8.

The Chairman-in-Office called upon the South Ossetian de facto authorities to refrain from any action which could further destabilize the situation in the conflict zone and noted that developments in the zone could have adverse effects on security and stability in the wider region.

He underlined the OSCE’s readiness to assist in defusing recent tensions in the conflict zone.