Georgian MIA: Russian Peacekeepers Linked to Abduction

In a statement issued on August 21, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) said that ?the abduction of Geno Petriashvili [from the S.Ossetian conflict zone] is directly linked with the South Ossetian law enforcement agencies and Russian peacekeeping forces.?

But the statement did not elaborate further as to what this alleged ?direct link? means. Neither South Ossetian officials, nor Russian peacekeepers commented on these accusations.

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

In a separate statement issued on August 20, the Interior Ministry said that Petriashvili’s abduction ?confirms once again that Tskhinvali [capital of breakaway South Ossetia] is a base for criminal gangs, kidnappers, illegal armed groups and the drug trade.?

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)