South Ossetian, Georgian Sides Accuse Each Other of Opening Fire

The South Ossetian side reported that an armed clash occurred between the Georgian and South Ossetian forces near the Georgian village of Avnevi in the early hours of October 18 after the Georgian side opened fire on Ossetian villages. However, the Georgian side denies these reports, claiming that that the South Ossetian forces were the first to open fire.

“Shelling of the Ossetian villages of Kverneti and Ubiati continued all night long on October 18 from the Georgian villages of Avnevi and Nuli. These villages were relatively calm until recently. Shelling has overgrown into armed clash between the sides,” reads a statement issued by the Press and Information Committee of the self-styled South Ossetian Republic.

However, Commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the conflict zone Aleksandre Kapanadze denied the reports and accused the South Ossetian side of opening fire.

“The South Ossetian side opened fire near the Georgian village of Avnevi, but the Georgian side never responded. The South Ossetian side fired shots in the air,” Commander of the Georgian peacekeepers told Civil Georgia on October 18.

The South Ossetian side has also accused the Georgian side of having unauthorized, non-peacekeeping troops in the conflict zone.