Official: Georgian Forces Capture Five Villages

Georgian troops have forced South Ossetian militiamen from five villages in the vicinity of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali, Temur Iakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, told Rustavi 2 TV at 3:10am local time on August 8.

According to the Georgian side, it now controls the villages of Didmukha, Mugut, Okona, Atotsi and Dmenisi.

Earlier on August 8, Mikheil Mindzaev, the breakaway region’s interior minister, confirmed that the villages of Didmukha and Mugut had been captured by Georgian forces.

Iakobashvili said the situation remained “very tense,” adding that Tskhinvali “is now besieged.”

“But our goal is not to capture or besiege towns; our goal is to cease fire,” he said. “So we again state that we are ready for dialogue.”

He also said that it was inappropriate and “amoral” to argue about the format of talks now, when “people are dying.”