Russia Demands Withdrawal of Georgia’s Extra Troops

Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on July 10 claiming that Georgia has “dispatched 3,000 troops in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone.”

“Presence of large number of troops in the conflict zone further destabilizes situation, which is already extremely tensed. Sporadic and chaotic shootings already take place. As a result casualties have already been reported from the both sides [Georgians and Ossetians],” the statement reads.

Moscow called for withdrawal of those extra unites of the Georgian armed forces from the conflict zone, which is not the part of the peacekeeping troops deployed in the breakaway South Ossetia.

Georgian Defense Ministry has already denied report over sending 3,000 soldiers of the Georigan armed forces in the conflict zone.

Russia also called on the Georgian and South Ossetian side to renew talks and resolve the crisis through peaceful means.

Georgian President, who has accused “certain forces in Russia” of attempts to engage Georgian in the fresh armed conflict in South Ossetia, warned Moscow that in case of renewed armed confrontation, “it will not be an internal conflict.”

“It will be a problem between Georgia and Russia,” Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news briefing on July 10.

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