Security Ministry Investigates Detention of Peacekeepers

Georgian Security Ministry launched investigation into the case of detention of up to 50 Georgian peacekeepers by the South Ossetian militias on July 8.

Most of the peacekeepers, which were disarmed and detained in the Georgian village of Vanati in breakaway region, were released on July 9; however three of them including the chief of the unit Mikheil Surmava remain in detention in breakaway South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali.

Georgian Security Minister Vano Merabishvili said at a special convened news briefing late on July 10 that the investigation tries to unveil details of the arrest.

“However, the investigation is hindered by the fact that Surmava remains in detention in Tskhinvali and we can not interrogate him,” Vano Merabishvili said.

He added that the investigation has “doubts over Surmava’s activity;” however he refrained to make detailed comments.

Georgian Security Minister also said that the South Ossetian side offered Tbilisi to exchange three Georgians for Marek Dudaev, who was arrested by the Georgian law enforcers in March in South Ossetia.

“Marek Dudaev is a criminal and notorious warlord. We will not exchange our soldiers for criminals,” Vano Merabishvili said.