Arrests Trigger S.Ossetia Tensions

Georgian law enforcers released overnight on May 28 forty one men, who were arrested on May 27 in the South Ossetian conflict zone reportedly under the pretext of violation of visa requirements.

The South Ossetian side reported that the Georgian law enforcement agencies, including Defense Ministry forces carried out series of raids and arrests of ethnic Ossetians on Tamarasheni-Kekhvi section of the major road in the conflict zone known as Trans Caucasus Highway as well as in the Ossetian village of Khelchua on May 27. Arrested persons, including women, were brought to Gori police station, according to the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee, which also reported that women were released two hours after detention.

Reports on number of arrested varied from 40 to 60.

“At approximately 2 am [on May 28] 41 men were released from the Gori police station. Many of them claimed that in the police station they were warned that actions of this kind [arrests] will continue,” Maj. Gen. Marat Kulakhmetov, Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF) stationed in the conflict zone, told Interfax news agency on May 28.

Two men, arrested in the village of Khelchua, still remain in detention, according to the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee.

The South Ossetian side also reported that at least 25 detainees were beaten by the Georgian police.

The Georgian televisions interviewed several released Ossetians in Tskhinvali, who said that they were beaten in Gori police station.

Meanwhile, the Georgian media sources reported that in a response to the Georgian law enforcers’ raids, the South Ossetian militia groups detained several Georgian men and brutally beat them up. They were released only after the Georgian side freed Ossetian detainees.

Interior Minister of breakaway South Ossetia Mikhail Mindzaev described the incident as “a vandal act” committed by the Georgian side.

Deputy Chairman of the unrecognized republic’s government Boris Chochiev told reporters that the incident has revealed real intentions of the Georgian side. “It has proved once again that in reality [Georgian Defense Minister Irakli] Okruashvili and persons like him govern Georgia,” Chochiev said.

He also said that he has talked for several times with Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava on phone in an attempt to solve the problem, but Chochiev said Khaindrava failed to take any steps that could help defuse tensions.

The Georgian law enforcement agencies have not made any comments regarding the incident.

Giorgi Khaindrava told Imedi television that arrested persons were heading from Russia’s North Ossetia and had no Georgian visas, which is a violation of law.