Tbilisi Dubs South Ossetian Leadership ‘Criminal Regime’
The Georgian Interior Ministry has accused South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity and his government members of patronizing criminal groups engaged in smuggling, kidnappings, arms trafficking and blamed Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the conflict zone of providing arms to the South Ossetian militia groups. South Ossetian officials, as well as Russian peacekeepers, have already dismissed these allegations as ?absurd.?
The Georgian Interior Ministry posted on its official web-site on November 26 a diagram under the name ?Criminal Regime of the So-Called South Ossetian Authorities.?
At the top of the diagram there is a photo of South Ossetian Leader Eduard Kokoity with the caption: ?racketeering, smuggling, kidnappings, corruption, persecution of political opponents.?
Below Kokoity?s photo there are pictures of his government members: Anatoly Yarovoi, chief of the security service; Anatoly Barankevich, the defense minister; Yuri Morozov, head of the South Ossetian government; Boris Chochiev, special affairs minister and South Ossetian chief negotiator on the conflict resolution issues; Mikhail Mindzaev, interior minister. Each of them, according to the Georgian Interior Ministry, is engaged in illegal activities in South Ossetia.
The list also includes Commander of Russian peacekeeping forces Maj. Gen. Marat Kulakhmetov and his aide Gen. Igor Grudnov. Both of them are described by the Georgian Interior Ministry as persons who are in charge of providing a cover for the Russian special services operating in the conflict zone. Peacekeepers are also accused of providing arms, equipment and fuel to the South Ossetian militia groups.
?How can I comment on this absurd [thing]?? Boris Chochiev, South Ossetian chief negotiator, told Tbilisi-based Imedi television on November 27.
?I am really amazed at the level of this absurdity,? Maj. Gen. Kulakhmetov told Imedi television in a phone interview on November 27.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
