Moscow Calls on Tskhinvali, Tbilisi for Restraint
In a statement issued on January 22 by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow called on the Georgian and South Ossetian sides ?to reject the hostage-taking practice, which may trigger chain reaction, unpredictable results and escalation of tension.?
On January 22, 12 ethnic Ossetians, including Deputy Special Affairs Minister of breakaway South Ossetia Makhar Gasiyev, were kidnapped in the South Ossetian conflict zone. Prior to this Lado Chalauri, the chief of police in the Eredvi village in the conflict zone, was kidnapped on January 20, allegedly by the relatives of Ossetian Oleg Pukhaev who was arrested by the Georgian police on January 19. Only Gasiyev has been freed so far.
?The recent escalation of tension in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone is provoked by those persons, who are against normalization of relations [between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali],? the statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry reads.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also called for release of all ?innocent detainees? and closer cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the Georgian and South Ossetian sides.
