Russian Chief Peacekeeper Comments on Tskhinvali Shelling

Maj. Gen. Marat Kulakhmetov, the Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, stationed in the South Ossetian Conflict zone said on September 21 that according to “preliminary information” the capital of breakaway South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, was targeted by mortar attacks from the direction of the Nikozi village.

?Currently I can say only the direction from which the shells were fired ? this is the village of Nikozi, which is mainly populated by Georgians. Nikozi ? this is only direction and this does not mean that Georgians were shooting? The exact location from where the shots were fired is has not yet been identified,? Maj. Gen. Kulakhmetov told the RIA Novosti news agency.

He said that an investigation is underway. ?Three, 120mm mortar shells exploded on the territory of Tskhinvali at approximately 7:15 am Moscow time. As a result, ten people were wounded. Three of them were badly injured,? the Commander of the peacekeeping troops said.