OSCE Monitors Briefly Detained in South Ossetian Conflict Zone

Two monitors from the OSCE Mission to Georgia were detained at gunpoint on May 12 in the South Ossetian conflict zone by “what appeared to be a South Ossetian “volunteer” armed group,” according to press release issued by the OSCE.

The OSCE reported that the two monitors were released after an hour as a result of intervention by the Joint Peacekeeping Forces command stationed in the conflict zone.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel has already condemned this incident, which took place near the village of Avnevi, as “a serious violation of existing agreements.”

“I urgently call upon the South Ossetian leadership to take all necessary measures to avoid any future such actions against unarmed international observers. It is particularly unfortunate that this incident took place at a time when serious efforts are underway to move forward the peaceful resolution of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.”
 
Dimitrij Rupel hailed the speedy action taken by the Joint Peacekeeping Forces command to defuse the situation.

No comment has been made by authorities in breakaway South Ossetia regarding this incident.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)