Russia Determined to Rotate Peacekeepers in S.Ossetia

Maj. Gen. Marat Kulakhmetov, the Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF) in the South Ossetian conflict zone, said on May 30 that Russia will rotate its peacekeeping battalion despite the Georgian side’s objections.

The Georgian authorities say Russia can send its new troops to rotate the peacekeeping battalion in the South Ossetian conflict zone only through legally operating customs checkpoints. Tbilisi is against the use of the Roki Tunnel, which links breakaway South Ossetia with neighboring Russia’s North Ossetian Republic for rotation of Russian troops in the conflict zone.

“The entire rotation procedure will be carried out as scheduled anyway… We know that the Georgian side plans provocations aimed at thwarting rotation, but despite this fact the rotation of our servicemen will take place as scheduled,” Maj. Gen. Kulakhmetov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.

He also said that a convoy of Russian troops from the Russian North Caucasus Military District deployed in Prokhladnoe, North Ossetia has already departed.

The Russian peacekeeping battalion is part of the JPKF, which also consists of Georgian and Ossetian battalions. Each participating side has the right to have 500 troops in the JPKF.

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava said on May 30 that Tbilisi warned Russia not to use the Roki Tunnel for the rotation of its troops in South Ossetia on May 23.

“Georgia will consider this action [entry of Russian troops via Roki Tunnel] as use of force by the Russian peacekeeping troops against the Georgian state,” Giorgi Khaindrava told Imedi television station on May 30.