Russian Military Officers Released

Three Russian military officers detained by the Georgian Military Police in the South Ossetian conflict zone on February 8 were released on Friday.

The Georgia side handed the three Russian officers over to OSCE Observers, who transferred them a short distance to the JPKF Observation Post north of Kekhvi. The OSCE Observers then escorted the JPKF vehicle,  which was carrying the officers, as far as the northern edge of the zone of conflict. From that point at Didigupta the JPKF vehicle carrying the officers continued northwards.

Georgian law enforcers detained the Russian officers in the Georgian village of Kurta, citing that they had no Georgian entry visas.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said on February 9 that deportation procedures of the three Russian officers were underway, as they did not possess passports either.

The JPKF will now be responsible for their departure to Russia. Reportedly, the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi guaranteed that the officers will leave the country. Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said at a news briefing Friday that the Russian officers should leave the country within 24 hours.

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the detention of the three officers on February 9 as “a provocation.”