OSCE Condemns Shelling of Civilians in Tskhinvali
The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, has condemned ?those who launched an artillery attack last night in a populated area of Tskhinvali,? the capital of breakaway South Ossetia, the OSCE press office reported on September 21.
“The firing of heavy weapons into civilian areas is not only a serious breach of the ceasefire agreement, but it is also against all norms of civilized behaviour and decency. I have no hesitation in totally condemning this act,” the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said.
No deaths have been reported, but around 10 civilians were injured after three shells hit Tskhinvali, according to the latest reports from the conflict zone. According to the South Ossetian side shells were fired from the Georgian village of Ergneti at approximately 7 pm local time.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel added that he has joined Ambassador Roy Reeve, Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, in his expectations that the relevant authorities would conduct an urgent investigation to bring those responsible to justice.
“In light of this and other events, I would support the [OSCE] Mission’s repeated call for an early meeting at the highest level between the sides,” Dimitrij Rupel added.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)