Tbilisi Negotiates with Tskhinvali over Release of Policemen

Representatives of the Georgian side are holding talks with the authorities of breakaway South Ossetian over release of two Georgian policemen, who were detained early on January 20 in the village of Ergneti in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

According to the Georgian officials the South Ossetian side demands release of Oleg Pukhaev, an Ossetian who was arrested by the Georgian police in the South Ossetian conflict zone on January 19, in exchange of release of two Georgian policemen.

According to the Georgian Interior Ministry Oleg Pukhaev was wanted for alleged murder case committed last February in the Georgian village of Tamarasheni in the conflict zone.

However, the Georgian side rejects exchange of arrested persons and demands immediate release of the Georgian policemen. Georgian media reported that two policemen were abducted by the relatives of Oleg Pukhaev.

In a statement issued by the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee on January 19, Tskhinvali condemned arrest of Oleg Pukhaev as ?a provocation.?