Moscow Accuses Tbilisi of Destabilizing South Ossetia

In a statement issued on May 30 the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Georgia of triggering the May 27 incident, wherein dozens of South Ossetian civilians were detained and reportedly beaten, and attempting to destabilize the situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

?On May 27 the Georgian side deployed special purpose units in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone in violation of all existing agreements. During the operation, the special purpose units blocked several checkpoints of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF), which were set up by the Russian peacekeepers? It is known that personnel from the Georgian special purpose unit have nothing to do with the Georgian battalion, which is part of the JPKF,? the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

?The Russian Foreign Ministry considers the Georgian side?s action a provocation aimed at destabilizing the situation in the conflict zone, as well as an attempt to undermine its [the conflict?s] peaceful resolution. The result of this [action] was a confrontation, which could have grown into bloodshed. Only the restraint shown by the Russian peacekeepers made it possible to prevent the development of this scenario? The Russian Foreign Ministry, which expresses deep concern, warns that the entire responsibility for the consequences of these kinds of actions will rest on the Georgian side,? the statement reads.