Moscow accused Tbilisi of escalating tensions in breakaway South Ossetia on July 30, amid conflicting reports over an exchange of fire near Tskhinvali, the capital of the self-styled republic.
Authorities in breakaway South Ossetia accused the Georgian forces of opening fire on the capital Tskhinvali overnight on July 30. At least two civilians were wounded, Irina Gagloeva, a spokesperson for the South Ossetian government told Itar-Tass news agency.
However, the Georgian side denies these reports and accused the South Ossetian side of shelling the Georgian village of Tamarasheni near Tskhinvali, using automatic weapons and grenade launchers. At least three Georgian policemen were reportedly wounded.
Svyatoslav Nabzdorov, commander of the peacekeeping troops stationed in the conflict zone confirmed the overnight shootouts. He told Interfax news agency that “shots were fired from both the South Ossetian and Georgian, sides.”
This is the second incident in the conflict zone in as many days. The OSCE Mission in Georgia, which has observers in the conflict zone, reported on July 28 that “a substantial increase in the duration and ferocity of fire” occurred in the Georgian village of Tamarasheni in the early hours of July 28. No casualties were reported. The OSCE mission urged the joint peacekeeping forces stationed in the conflict zone to consider activating night patrols in order to avoid overnight shootouts in the region.
“These shootouts are provocations aimed at engaging the Georgian side in a fresh armed conflict. However, we will not yield to this provocation. Our forces are ordered not to open fire,” Mikheil Kareli, the Georgian top official in the region told reporters on July 30.
Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze told reporters, after his return from Israel on July 30, that the Georgian police forces stationed in the conflict zone are able to protect Georgian villages in the breakaway region.
“The Defense Ministry has no troops in the conflict zone. There are only the police forces, but in case it becomes a necessity, the Defense Ministry is ready to take adequate measures,” Giorgi Baramidze said.
Meanwhile, visiting de facto President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoev met with Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Valeri Loshchinin on July 30 in Moscow. Kokoev told reporters after the talks that he ordered the South Ossetian militias “to suppress enemy fire in case of shelling.” He demanded once again that the Georgian side pull its extra troops out of the conflict zone.
According to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement issued on July 30 Eduard Kokoev thanked the Russian side for its support and expressed hope that “Russia will continue supporting its citizens living in South Ossetia.” Russia has issued its passports to the majority of the residents in Georgia’s breakaway region.
Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Valeri Loshchinin accused the Georgian forces stationed in the conflict zone of escalating tensions.
“Provocative actions by the Georgian forces in the conflict zone destabilize the situation not only in South Ossetia, but in the entire region as well. Russia can not remain indifferent towards the protection of the rights of Russian citizens living in South Ossetia,” the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said.
He called for the Georgian and South Ossetian sides to immediately resume talks in order to defuse tensions in the breakaway region. Valeri Loshchinin also accused Tbilisi of violating June 2 and July 15 protocols, signed in frames of Joint Control Commission (involving the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian sides), envisaging non-resumption of fire and withdrawal of extra troops from the conflict zone.
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili addressed the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on July 29 and urged the organization to increase its role in conflict resolution, in a bid to activate international efforts towards South Ossetia.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Jones, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs arrived in Tbilisi on July 30 for a one-day visit to discuss recent developments in South Ossetia with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and other officials.
