Georgian MIA Comments on Child Abduction in South Ossetia

In a statement issued on August 20 the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) said that the abduction of 11-year-old Geno Petriashvili from the South Ossetian conflict zone ?confirms once again that Tskhinvali [capital of breakaway South Ossetia] is a base for criminal gangs, kidnappers, illegal armed groups and the drug trade.?

Geno Petriashvili was kidnapped by unknown men on August 19 in the village of Nuli, located in the Proni gorge, west of the breakaway South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali.

The statement of the Interior Ministry also says that the presence of the Russian peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone ?fosters? the process of South Ossetia turning into safe haven for criminals.

The Georgian Interior Ministry said that the abducted Petriashvili ?is thought to be held in South Ossetian-controlled territory.?

?The Georgian Interior Ministry has information about alleged kidnappers and a probe is currently underway to find out other details of the case,? the statement reads.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)