Tbilisi, Tskhinvali at Odds over New Georgian Chief Peacekeeper

Authorities in breakaway South Ossetia barred newly appointed commander of the Georgian peacekeepers stationed in the conflict zone Paata Bedianashvili from entering the region on September 15. The South Ossetian side protested against Bedianashvili’s appointment, citing that he was ?one of the key persons behind stirring armed clashes? between the Georgiana and South Ossetian forces last August.

In a statement issued on September 15, the Georgian Defense Ministry condemned this objection by the authorities in the unrecognized republic as ?a deliberate action by the South Ossetia side, directed against the peace process.?

The Georgian Defense Ministry claims that according to a statute approved by the Joint Control Commission, involving the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and Russia?s North Ossetian sides, in December, 1994, it is the prerogative of the participating sides to appoint its commander of the peacekeeping unit. ?Only the Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces is appointed with the approval of the Joint Control Commission,? the Georgian Defense Ministry stated.

But according to the South Ossetian side, citing the very same statute, the commander of the peacekeeping unit should be an officer who has never participated in the armed conflicts.

?Paata Bedianashvili was one of the organizers and active participants of Georgia?s military aggression against South Ossetia in the summer, 2004,? reads the statement issued by the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee on September 15 reads.

The Joint Peacekeeping Forces, stationed in the conflict zone, is made up of three battalions, each composed of servicemen from the Georgian, Russian and Russia?s North Ossetian sides.

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