Arms Seizure in South Ossetia May Cause Rift Within Georgian Cabinet

The Georgia Security Ministry launched an investigation into the case concerning the transfer of a large number of arms into breakaway South Ossetia which was seized by Georgian internal troops on July 7.

Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili told reporters, after the Georgian cabinet session on July 7, that several members of the cabinet are likely to be interrogated regarding the case.

?Those who are in charge of holding talks in frames of the Joint Control Commission [a quadripartite body aiming to defuse tensions in the conflict zone, involving Georgia, South Ossetian, North Ossetian and Russian sides] will have to answer questions put to them by investigators,? Irakli Okruashvili said; however, he did not specifically name any particular officials.
 
In the early hours of July 7, Georgian internal troops seized nine trucks belonging to Russian peacekeepers that were loaded with arms, ammunition and uniforms. The Trucks were carrying 300 unguided missiles, commonly used by helicopter gunships.

The Russian side, which has already condemned the seizure of its arms, claims that the arms and equipment were needed for a helicopter command center used by the Russian peacekeeping unit deployed in the conflict zone.

The Russian side also claims that the creation of the helicopter command center was included in agreements reached between Russia and Georgia during a session of the Joint Control Commission in Tskhinvali on June 2.

If reports over this agreement, which were not publicized until now, are indeed valid, Georgian State Minister Goga Khaindrava will be interrogated over the case. Mr. Khaindrava is in charge of holding talks with the South Ossetian side in frames of the Joint Control Commission.

Irakli Okruashvili also told reporters that the Russian side had also planned a deployment of helicopters but abandoned the plan after the seizure of the arms by the Georgian troops.