South Ossetian Militia Attacks Georgian MoD Helicopter

A helicopter carrying the Georgian Defense Minister and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces was damaged after South Ossetian militias opened fire on September 3 when the MI-8 helicopter flew over the secessionist-controlled territory, Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said.

He said the helicopter had ?to carry out an emergency landing.? No one was injured.

?There was shooting at our Defense Ministry?s helicopter, which was on its way to Senaki [military base]. The Deputy Chief of Staff and I were on board. Of course, [the attackers] were armed groups of Ossetians,? Okruashvili told reporters about three hours after the incident.

?Everyone should understand that the rampage of these bandits will be stopped very soon, once and forever. This is not the first time that our helicopters have been shot at. A similar incident took place just a few days ago,? Okruashvili said.

He also said that recently the South Ossetian side has made several statements about ?the violation of South Ossetian airspace? by Georgian helicopters.

??South Ossetian airspace’ does not exist,? Okruashvili said.

Meanwhile, the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported that the Georgian helicopter ?was shot down? at approximately 3:40 pm local time.

The South Ossetian official agency said in a statement the helicopter ?violated South Ossetian airspace over the Znauri district? in the west of the breakaway region?s capital, Tskhinvali.

?The Georgian Defense Ministry?s helicopter did not respond to [the South Ossetian side?s] multiple warning? As the violation of South Ossetian airspace by Georgian helicopters has became of a frequent nature ? the Georgian side has violated South Ossetia?s airspace 240 times in the last five months ? the Ossetian side has decided to undertake adequate measures. The helicopter was shot down in the vicinity of Isakikau in the Znauri district,? the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee said.

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