Russia Says it will Respond to Attacks on Peacekeepers

In a statement issued on October 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the recent ?provocative attacks? against the servicemen of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, deployed in the South Ossetian conflict area.
 
?In the recent incident, on October 12, the Georgian security forces illegally detained wounded Ossetian peacekeepers and a civilian accompanying them, who were taken to the Georgian Security Ministry?s detention cell. After their release [on October 15] it has become clear that the detainees were subjected to physical violence,? the Russian Foreign Ministry?s statement reads.  

The statement also ready, that the increased number of attacks on peacekeepers, which already led to death of two Ossetian peacekeepers, aim at intimidation of the peacekeeping troops, ?which might lead to renewal of violence in the conflict zone.

?The Russian side reserves right to undertake all the necessary measures to protect their [peacekeepers] life and dignity,? the statement reads.

A total of six peacekeepers, including one Russian, two Georgians and three Ossetians, have been wounded and two Ossetian peacekeepers killed in a series of attacks since October 8.