MoD Reports on Unauthorized Military Hardware in S.Ossetia

On April 8 the Georgian Ministry of Defense (MoD) accused  the Joint Peacekeeping Force (JPKF) stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone and its commander Marat Kulakhmetov of being “biased” and unable to ensure the demilitarization of the conflict zone.

According to the Georgian MoD, as a result of a joint monitoring carried out on March 21, 22 and 30 by Georgian, Russian and Ossetian peacekeepers with the participation of observers from the OSCE mission, an unauthorized anti-aircraft gun ZU-23-2 was found in the Ossetian village of Isakkau of the Znauri district. Observers have also found armored combat vehicles in the capital Tskhinvali, according to the Georgian MoD.

“This is the sixth case since December, 2005 where military hardware has been found in the conflict zone, which once against proves the partiality and incapability of the Russian peacekeeping forces to perform their duties,” a statement of the Georgian MoD reads.

The South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported on April 7 quoting Vladimir Ivanov, an aide to the JPKF commander, that “no violations have been found” as a result of the monitoring carried out on April 4-6 in both Georgian and Ossetian villages of the conflict zone.