Kokoev: ?Hard to Talk? with Georgian Officials

South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoev accused on July 9 the Georgian authorities of provoking the conflict in the region and called them ?criminals.?
 
?They [Georgia?s current authorities] have come to power through ballot fraud and we will find it very difficult to talk with them,? Eduard Kokoev said at a news briefing in capital of breakaway r region Tskhinvali.

Eduard Kokoev said, up to 50 Georgian peacekeepers, which were detained by the South Ossetian militias in the region on July 8, were released on July 9 ?through my good will.?

On July 8 Kokoev also accused the Georgian side of attempting ?to launch military hostilities? in the region. ?Georgia wants war. But we are ready for self-defense,? Eduard Kokoev told reporters in Tskhinvali.

He also said that the Parliament of the unrecognized Republic passed a resolution on July 7 that envisages the ?enforcement of Russian laws in South Ossetia.?

The breakaway republic has often appealed Moscow, urging Russia to accept their accession into the Russian Federation.