Georgian MoD Says Russian Troops Rotation Illegal

The Georgian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on May 30 that Russia has carried out an “illegal rotation” of its, as the MoD put it, “so called peacekeeping battalion” stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

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

“Russia rotated its battalion without the consent of the Georgian co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission [State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava], thus violated the agreements,” the Georgian MoD said in a statement.
 
The MoD stated that 13 trucks, 2 infantry combat vehicles and 500 servicemen entered into Georgia via the Roki Tunnel and are now deployed in Tskhinvali. None of the Russian servicemen have Georgian visas, according to the MoD.

“This action is a rough violation of border and visa regimes existing between Russia and Georgia and, moreover, is a criminal act. Consequently, each so called ‘Russian peacekeeper’ entering the territory of Georgia without a visas issued by the relevant authorities is considered a criminal according to Georgian legislation,” the Georgian MoD stated.