Tskhinvali Blames Tbilisi for Water Shortage

Georgia’s refusal to repair a drinking water pipeline on its controled territory has caused ?a critical situation? in the capital of breakaway South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, which has been without water for six days, the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported on May 30.

The breakaway region?s Foreign Ministry warned in a statement on May 30 that the South Ossetian side ?would be forced to undertake adequate measures? if the water supply was not restored and ?the Georgian side would be held responsible for all the negative consequences of these measures.?

It also said that Tbilisi was using the water pipeline to apply pressure on Tskhinvali.

The South Ossetian side claims that the pipeline was damaged by residents of Georgian villages to the north of Tskhinvali, who use the water for irrigation purposes.

The South Ossetian Press and Information Committee also said that a team of Ossetian workers, which was sent to repair the damaged pipe, was prevented from entering the Georgian-controlled area.

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