S.Ossetian Leader Slams OSCE After Talks with Russian Officials

After talks with visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin in Tskhinvali, South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity criticized observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and accused them of “biased reporting” on the situation in the conflict zone.

“During the meeting [with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister] we discussed issues related with the preservation of the Russian-led peacekeeping operation in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone… We also discussed the actions of some observers from the OSCE mission. The South Ossetian side has expressed serious complaints about this international organization,” Kokoity said.

“From today we will take a very tough position in respect to OSCE’s activities. We have stated that the actions of the OSCE on the territory of the South Ossetian Republic are equal to those of the Georgian special services,” the South Ossetian leader said.

He also said that the South Ossetian side “will put into force certain restrictions towards those employees of the OSCE mission who go beyond the frames of all existing agreements and treaties.”

“We will put forth an issue on revising a memorandum which was signed by the leaders of the South Ossetian Republic and the OSCE,” Kokoity said, apparently referring to the 1993 memorandum of understanding that provides free movement of OSCE mission monitoring officers in the conflict zone.