According to official reports by the Georgian authorities, at least six South Ossetians were killed and two Georgian policemen wounded in an overnight shootout in the Ossetian conflict zone on August 1.
“Two Georgians were slightly wounded. According to our information at least six South Ossetians were killed. We opened fire after our positions were attacked from the South Ossetian side. We will open fire in the future as well and respond with adequate measure in case of [further] attacks,” Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili told reporters.
However, Tskhinvali denied that its forces sustained any casualties in the overnight shootout. The Interior Ministry of the breakaway region refuted the claims that six Ossetians had been killed and said on August 1 that “not a single person has died from the South Ossetian side.”
A session of the Joint Control Commission, involving the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian, sides preceded the overnight shootouts in the conflict zone.
Irakli Okruashvili, who together with State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava represented the Georgian side at the JCC session, said after the talks on July 31 that the sides agreed to set up a joint – Russian, Georgian and Ossetian peacekeeping checkpoint near Tskhinvali.
“The checkpoint between Tskhinvali and [the Georgian village of] Tamarasheni is currently occupied by the South Ossetian side. We agreed that Georgian and Russian peacekeepers will join them [the South Ossetian side] to jointly monitor the situation,” Irakli Okruashvili said.
Sporadic shootouts have become more intensive in the conflict zone. Both the South Ossetian and Georgian sides accuse each other of provoking the attacks.
While speaking to the Russian Izvestia daily, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov stated that the time is ripe for a meeting between the leadership of Tbilisi and Tskhinvali. Ivanov ruled out the possibility of a “major war” in South Ossetia, but said that politicians from both sides must “engage in a dialogue on various issues” to avoid dire consequences.
At the same time the Russian news agency Interfax issued a report on August 2, based on sources in South Ossetia, that said Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania intends to visit the capital Tskhinvali to hold talks with de facto President Eduard Kokoev.
Initially, the Georgian authorities did not confirm this information. However, later on the Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia, Gela Bezhuashvili, did not rule out the possibility of holding such talks. Bezhuashvili did, though, refrain from specifying a date for the meeting.
Igor Ivanov also stated during his interview with Izvestia that in the event that a military conflict should flare up, Russia would send its troops to South Ossetia “only under a UN Security Council mandate.”
When asked if he foresaw the possibility of South Ossetia joining Russia, Ivanov responded: “Theoretically, it is impossible to rule anything out in life. But currently I do not clearly see how this is feasible, taking into account both the Russian and Georgian legislation. Our task today is not to discuss hypothetical plans but solve the practical issues that will help restore normal, peaceful life in the region [of South Ossetia].”
Commenting on the same issue First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Valerie Loshchinin said “the nation [South Ossetian population] has the right to define its own fate; however international law envisages the principle of territorial integrity, which is strictly observed by Russia. However, it must be said that Russia cannot stay indifferent towards the fates of Russian citizens living in South Ossetia.”
In an interview with Russian news agency Itar-Tass, Valerie Loshchinin accused the Georgian side of violating decisions made during the Joint Control Commission meetings on 2 June and 15 July, particularly regarding the removal of unauthorized checkpoints and paramilitary formations.
“In order to defuse tensions, which are heading towards further escalation, the Georgian authorities should take steps towards fulfilling achieved agreements,” Loshchinin added.