Russian Officers Detained in South Ossetian Conflict Zone

The Georgian Military Police detained three Russian military officers in the Georgian village of Kurta, in the South Ossetian conflict zone, on February 8.

“They have no [Georgian visas]. According to the law, charges can be brought against them, but taking into account the fact that the only reason behind their arrival was to solve the issue related with the seizure of [the Russian peacekeepers’] vehicle a week ago, they will be released,” Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava was quoted by Itar-Tass news agency.

Georgian law enforcers seized a truck beloning to the Russian peacekeepers on January 31 after it crashed into a car being driven by a local resident in the village of Tkviavi, in the conflict zone.

Khaindrava also said that the Georgian side has agreed with the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi that the detained Russian officers will receive Georgian visas on February 9.

He said that the Russian officers are currently being held in a police station in Kurta.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the three officers are not members of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces stationed in the conflict zone and confirmed that they arrived there “to solve the issue related with the confiscated vehicle.”