South Ossetian Officials Release 31 of 50 Georgian Hostages

31 Georgian peacekeepers who had been detained by the South Ossetian militias, were released on July 9; however, 19 other prisoners  remain in a Tskhinvali jail, Chairman of the Georgian Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Security Givi Targamadze, who is currently in the South Ossetian conflict zone, told Civil Georgia.

Goga Khaindrava, who held overnight talks with the South Ossetian side, told Rustavi 2 television that he is trying ?to determine whether some of the Georgian soldiers are really still in detention.?

?If it is true, they will be also released,? Khaindrava added.

50 Georgian peacekeepers were detained by the South Ossetian militia groups after a raid of Georgian village of Vanati, in the breakaway region.