Georgian Side Protests Russian General’s Behavior

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 22, 2002) – “After investigation is completed, Georgian Ministry for Foreign Affairs will make proper steps concerning the incident that took place in the Georgian-Ossetian peacekeeping zone. We will require official explanation and demand not to repeat such incidents in the future”, stated Kakha Sikharulidze today, Spokesman of MFA. 

Russian General Pryzemlin ordered nearly 120 peacekeepers in Tskhinvali region to leave the peacekeeping zone and dislocate in the small village Garubani, in Akhalgori region controlled by Georgian central authority. The Russian general ordered Georgian soldiers to control the traffic at the village Akhmaja. At the same time, Russian and Ossetian soldiers began to trench and occupied few strategic heights.

This operation was not agreed with Georgian side, said Colonel Mikheil Kebadze, Commander of Georgian peacekeeping units in Tskhinvali region.
Peacekeepers returned to their dislocation after the sharp reaction of Georgian central and local authorities.       

“Armed forces are not allowed to leave peacekeeping zone and willfully search for bandits all over the world”, Sikharulidze said.