‘Hostage-Taking’ Heightens Tensions in South Ossetia, Amid Top-Level Talks

Georgian media reported on November 5 that the Georgian population of the breakaway South Ossetia threatened to kidnap ethnic Ossetians in case the South Ossetian side refuses to release 21 year-old Eldar Kakhniashvili, who has been missing since November 3.

But the South Ossetian side denies any links with the disappearance of Eldar Kakhniashvili and claims that the Georgian law enforcers refused their offer to carry out search operations jointly.

The Georgian media also reported that around 50 ethnic Georgians are blocked in the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali by the South Ossetian side. They were en-route to the Georgian village of Didi Liakhvi gorge,  north of Tskhinvali, but they were barred from entering the capital of the self-styled republic. The direct road linking the Georgian controlled territories to the Georgian enclave in Didi Liakhvi gorge lies through Tskhinvali.

Meanwhile top-level talks between the Georgian and South Ossetian sides are underway in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Reports say that, currently, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoev are holding a meeting with the participation of representatives from the Russian Federation as well as from the OSCE.

Later, on November 5, face-to-face talks between Zhvania and Kokoev are also scheduled.

The Georgian Prime Minister said on November 4 that “no breakthrough is anticipated” from these talks.

He also said that the demilitarization of the conflict zone and securing free movement in the area will top the agenda during the meeting.

“I intend to push several issues during the talks. The most important is the demilitarization of the conflict zone. It is also very important to secure free movement in the area; in particular, the Georgian population should have the possibility to get to their villages via Tskhinvali [the South Ossetian capital]. Economic issues will also be put on the agenda, such as the railway connection issue,” Zurab Zhvania told reporters on November 4.

“We should achieve a resolution to the conflict on the basis of the solutions to these issues,” the Georgian Prime Minister added.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)