Moscow Protests Seizure of Aid in South Ossetia

In a statement issued on July 13 the Russian Foreign Ministry protested theGeorgian authorities’ seizure of humanitarian aid which was dispatched to Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetia by the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations.

The Georgian side blocked a convoy of Russian trucks from delivering humanitarian aid on July 13. The cargo was meant for the population of Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetian region but was barred from reaching its destination at the Georgian controlled village of Ergneti in the conflict zone.

The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Georgia of violating an agreement over ?the Basic Principles of Settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict,? signed by the leaders of Georgia and Russia in 1992.

The Russian Foreign Ministry?s statement also quotes this agreement as saying, ?the sides find it inadmissible to use an economic blockade [on breakaway South Ossetia]? and take responsibility to provide humanitarian aid to the population of the region [South Ossetia].?

?The Russian Embassy to Georgia informed the Georgian authorities in advance about out intentions to dispatched humanitarian aid to South Ossetia,? the Russian Foreign Ministry?s statement reads.

The Georgian side explained this seizure of the convoy was necessary oweing to an absence of the papers proving that the cargo went through the Georgian customs service.

?The Russian side failed to provide any documentation that proves that the cargo is humanitarian aid. In this case, according to the Georgian legislature, the cargo must go through our customs service and pay customs dues,? Mikheil Kareli, the Georgian government?s top official in the region told reporters in the village of Ergneti.

This incident is expected to further fuel tensions in Georgian-Russian relations, which have become more strained since July 7, when Georgian troops in breakaway South Ossetia intercepted and seized two Russian peacekeepers’ trucks loaded with hundreds of unguided missiles.

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