15.06.2008 - Source: ReliefWeb

One person killed and 4 wounded during crossfire between Georgian and South Ossetian troops ("One dead in Georgian-Abkhazian crossfire"), Autor: Agence France-Presse (AFP) [ID 23479]

Document(s): Open document

16.05.2008 - Source: Civil Georgia

Policeman hurt by blast in village of Eredvi ("Policeman Injured in S.Ossetia Blast") [ID 23249]

Document(s): Open document

28.03.2008 - Source: Civil Georgia

Tskhinvali: One woman killed in car explosion which allegedly meant to kill chief prosecutor of breakaway South Ossetia ("Woman Killed in Tskhinvali Blast") [ID 22854]

Document(s): Open document

24.03.2008 - Source: Civil Georgia

Two men badly wounded in car explosion; according to the region's state security committee (KGB), the explosion was masterminded by Georgian security services; Georgia denied the allegation ("Blast Injures Two in S.Ossetia") [ID 22678]

Document(s): Open document

14.03.2008 - Source: Civil Georgia

One resident wounded in shootout; according to Georgia, incident was provoked by South Ossetian side ("One Injured in S.Ossetian Shooting") [ID 22568]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2008 - Source: Civil Georgia

Explosion in the village of Kokhati killed two militiamen and injured about a dozen other people on 28 February 2008 ("Reports: Blast Kills Two in S.Ossetia") [ID 22453]

Document(s): Open document

17.12.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Tskhinvali: A South Ossetian militiaman by the name of Mairbek Khuriev died and two others were badly injured in a bomb attack, the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported ("One Dies in Tskhinvali Blast") [ID 21863]

Document(s): Open document

26.09.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Female resident of Tskhinvali injured in “intense fire” which erupted in the conflict zone on the evening of September 26 ("S.Ossetia Says One Injured in Shootout") [ID 21240]

Document(s): Open document

03.07.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

OSCE concerned about situation in conflict zone; casualties, both Georgian and Ossetian police officers included, in recent days; targeted sniper fire ("OSCE Chair Concerned over S.Ossetia Tensions") [ID 20623]

Document(s): Open document

28.06.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Tamarasheni: According to South Ossetian press and Georgian media 2 South Ossetian militiamen were badly injured by a sniper and a Georgian policeman was injured in an separate incident ("Three Injured in South Ossetia Shootings") [ID 20395]

Document(s): Open document

09.05.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has condemned an attack on its monitors ("OSCE Condemns Attack On Monitors In South Ossetia") [ID 19820]

Document(s): Open document

29.01.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Shoot-out between police and gunmen in the border village of Ergneti ("Shoot-Out Reported In Georgian Breakaway Region") [ID 18554]

Document(s): Open document

08.09.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Clashes between Georgian forces and separatist forces in the conflict zone of South Ossetia has left casualties on both sides; according to local officials one policeman died and 2 others were injured ("Casualties Reported In South Ossetia Border Clash") [ID 17118]

"According to the South Ossetians, three South Ossetian militiamen died when Georgian troops attacked a checkpoint they were manning. The Joint Peacekeeping Force -- which includes Georgian, Russian, and South and North Ossetian troops -- says it is investigating the incident. [...] Tensions peaked again on September 3 when South Ossetian forces fired on a helicopter carrying Georgia's defense minister."

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14.07.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: 2 people killed in bomb explosion in Tskhinvali ("Explosion Kills Two In South Ossetia") [ID 15583]

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14.07.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

South Ossetia: After explosion on 9 July in Tskhinvali, which killed secretary of National Security Council of South Ossetia Oleg Albarov, another blast kills 2 civilians, 4 injured ("Blast Kills Two in Tskhinvali") [ID 15720]

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11.07.2006 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

South Ossetia: On 8 July the only recognized road crossing point between Georgia and Russia was closed; the next day a security official was killed in an attack ("OSCE Chairman calls for calm and restraint in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict") [ID 15394]

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09.07.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: Top security official Oleg Alborov killed by bomb; authorities blame Georgian secret service ("Top South Ossetian Official Killed By Bomb") [ID 15574]

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03.04.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Aide to South Ossetian leader Kokoiety sentenced to 2-month pretial custody for smuggling cigarettes ("S.Ossetian Official Sentenced to Custody") [#48214],  [ID 5844]

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01.04.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetian official arrested on suspicion of smuggling cigarettes ("Georgia Detains South Ossetian Officials") [#48039],  [ID 5845]

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08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Despite cease-fires, killings, disappearances and kidnappings were committed on both sides of the conflict; in one instance Georgian child was kidnapped and detained for 99 days ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46124],  [ID 5846]

"Despite ceasefires, killings were committed by elements on both sides of the separatist conflict in South Ossetia. In May four Ossetians and one Georgian police officer were killed in a shootout near the village of Tamareshini. In December the remains of four Georgian men kidnapped from their village on June 6 were returned to Georgia from South Ossetia. In October Givi Chukhrukhidze died from gunshot wounds suffered when armed men attacked his home in the conflict zone. None of these deaths were investigated, prosecuted, or punished by the de facto authorities. […]
However, conflict-related disappearances and kidnappings occurred during the year in the separatist regions of both Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and were frequent. In May in the South Ossetian village of Avnevi, armed men detained two observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission who were later released. In July Gocha Djaremlishvili was kidnapped from Artsevi village; his whereabouts remained unknown at year's end. […]
In September artillery shells were fired at an apartment building in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, injuring 10 people; both sides denied responsibility, and a joint peacekeeping force investigation was inconclusive. [...]
In South Ossetia kidnapping was used reciprocally both as a way to secure release for captured compatriots and for ransom. In one instance, an ethnic Georgian child was kidnapped within the conflict zone and released after 99 days of captivity. A bounty was offered but went uncollected."

Document(s): Open document

31.01.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

South Ossetia: Russian citizen killed in Java district; "direct result of the anti-Ossetian campaign carried out by the Georgian authorities", says Foreign Ministry of South Ossetia ("Tbilisi’s ‘Anti-Ossetian Campaign’ Blamed for Death of Man") [#43169],  [ID 5847]

Document(s): Open document

17.01.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

South Ossetia: 1 Russian peacekeeper and 2 Georgian policemen injured in mine explosion near Kurta ("Mine Injures Russian Serviceman, Georgian Policemen in S.Ossetia") [#42859],  [ID 5848]

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31.12.2005 - Source: ReliefWeb

On 15 December dead bodies of 2 brothers kidnapped and murdered 6 months ago were delivered by Ossetian side; according to de-facto President of South Ossetia, suspects have been detained ("Georgia: Humanitarian and development update Dec 2005 (UN Country Team in Georgia)") [#42042],  [ID 5849]

"On 15 December, the Ossetian side delivered remains of the brothers Khachapuridzes' and Lomidze, kidnapped from Tskhinvali 6 months ago and then murdered, after the relatives identified their bodies. In November, it became known that the hostages had been murdered. Bodies of the kidnapped have been found on the nearby territory of Dapleti, controlled by the Ossetians.
De-facto President of the South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity reported at the news conference held for the Georgian journalists in Tskhinvali on 14 December that the suspects have been detained. As per his words, the group of criminals includes both Georgians and Ossetians."

Document(s): Open document

15.12.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

Corpses of 4 men who were abducted in conflict zone in early June handed over to their relatives; it was alleged that 4 Georgian men could be victims of revenge carried out by relatives of 4 Ossetians who were killed by Georgian police ("Tskhinvali Hands over Corpses of Four Men") [#41809],  [ID 5850]

Document(s): Open document

12.12.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

2 road workers killed after their vehicle stroke mine near Zari; Tskhinvali: Several South Ossetian militiamen injured in shootout with local paramilitary group ("Two Killed in South Ossetia Blast") [#41807],  [ID 5851]

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09.12.2005 - Source: Prima News

South Ossetia armed forces received order to open fire without warning on all suspected Georgian special forces who appear in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone ("Resistance forces in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone") [#40496],  [ID 5852]

Document(s): Open document

08.12.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Georgian court convicts South Ossetian police officer to 3 months in jail ("Georgian Court Jails South Ossetian Policeman") [#40330],  [ID 5853]

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07.12.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: Georgian captives released; 3 policemen and one villager were the last of 20 captured on 6 November ("South Ossetia Releases Georgian Captives") [#40312],  [ID 5854]

Document(s): Open document

06.12.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: 20 ethnic Georgians, including at least 3 policemen, abducted; Georgian officials blame armed South Ossetians ("Georgians Abducted In South Ossetia") [#40221],  [ID 5855]

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01.12.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

South Ossetia: Chief of Akhalgori (Leningori) district administration and 3 other officials arrested by Georgian police ("Georgian Police Arrest S.Ossetian Officials") [#41797],  [ID 5858]

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16.11.2005 - Source: Prima News

South Ossetia: Russian soldiers fired on car at check point of Megvrekisi; according to injured driver soldiers shot without warning at departing car ("Russian peacekeepers fire on car in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone") [#39330],  [ID 5860]

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04.10.2005 - Source: Prima News

Eredvi: Several Ossetians opened fire and injured 2 local residents; injured were transported to local hospital ("Incident in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict") [#38117],  [ID 5862]

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30.09.2005 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

South Ossetia: 10 people injured in mortar attack during celebrations to mark 15th anniversary of South Ossetia’s self-proclaimed independence; celebrations came 2 days after signing of unprecedented agreement between North and South Ossetia which was greeted with scepticism by some Ossetians ("Mixed Reactions to Ossetian Unity Accord") [#37236],  [ID 5865]

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21.09.2005 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

South Ossetia: Around 10 civilians injured in artillery attack in populated area of Tskhinvali ("OSCE Chairman-in-Office condemns shelling of civilian area in South Ossetia") [#36930],  [ID 5867]

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11.09.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

2 civilians abducted by armed men after convoy accompanying by Russian peacekeepers was ambushed in Didi Liakhvi gorge in north of breakaway South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali; they were later released ("Two Civilians Released after Brief Abduction in South Ossetia") [#42517],  [ID 5870]

Document(s): Open document

10.08.2005 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

3 South Ossetian men suspected of being behind car bombing Gori, arrested by Georgian authorities; South Ossetia: 4 Ossetian soldiers and 1 Georgian policeman killed in firefight in ethnic Georgian village of Tamarasheni-Kekhvi in late June ("South Ossetia Tensions Escalate") [#35304],  [ID 5873]

Document(s): Open document

31.07.2005 - Source: ReliefWeb

Road connecting Georgian villages in South Ossetia and passing through Tskhinvali reopened in the beginning of July; the road had been closed due to deteriorated security situation ("OCHA Georgia Information Bulletin Jul 2005"), Autor: OCHA [ID 15424]

"A road which connects the Georgian villages in the South Ossetian conflict zone and passes through the region's capital Tskhinvali has been reopened in the beginning of July. According to the press office of the State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues, the decision to reopen this route was made during talks between the Georgian and South Ossetian law enforcement agencies on July 1. The sides agreed that the route between the Georgian villages of Tamarasheni and Kekhvi will be jointly controlled by Georgian and Russian peacekeeping troops, while the route between the villages of Ergneti and Tamarasheni, which lies through Tskhinvali, will be controlled by Russian and Ossetian peacekeepers. This road was closed after the situation deteriorated in the conflict zone following a May 29 armed clash between South Ossetian militias and Georgian police and the disappearance of four Georgians in the conflict zone on June 6."

Document(s): Open document

28.07.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: Tbilisi government's accusations raise South Ossetian fear of military operations ("Tbilisi's Moves Raise Fears In South Ossetia") [#34577],  [ID 5874]

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08.06.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

Tensions in South Ossetia sparked again following reported disappearance of 4 residents of Georgian ethnicity ("Disappearances Spark Tension in South Ossetia") [#42850],  [ID 5875]

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30.05.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

1 Georgian policeman and 4 South Ossetian armed men, reportedly servicemen of breakaway region's defense ministry, killed in clash near Georgian village of Tamarasheni ("Five Die in S.Ossetia Shootout") [#42879],  [ID 5876]

Document(s): Open document

12.05.2005 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

South Ossetia: 2 monitoring officers from OSCE Mission to Georgia threatened and briefly detained by armed men in zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict ("OSCE Chairman concerned over detention of two OSCE staff in South Ossetia") [#32026],  [ID 5877]

Document(s): Open document

22.01.2005 - Source: BBC News

South Ossetia: Georgian policeman abducted when South Ossetian gunmen attacked a Georgian police checkpoint; in separate incident, 12 South Ossetians were abducted and 1 of them also beaten by unidentified Georgian gunmen ("South Ossetia gripped by tension") [#28447],  [ID 5878]

Document(s): Open document

21.01.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

Russian peacekeeper found dead near Kekhvi in South Ossetian conflict zone; Russian peacekeeping officials refrain to comment on reasons of death ("Russian Peacekeeper Dies in South Ossetia other » News «") [#43461],  [ID 5879]

Document(s): Open document

26.11.2004 - Source: International Crisis Group

New ceasefire holds since 19 August 2004; agreement on demilitarisation of the zone of conflict signed on November 5 ("Georgia: Avoiding war in South Ossetia") [#27368],  [ID 5882]

"A new ceasefire holds since 19 August 2004. At a high level meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity on 5 November in Sochi, an agreement on demilitarisation of the zone of conflict was signed. Some exchange of fire continues in the zone of conflict, apparently primarily initiated by the Ossetian side, but there is still cause for optimism that the conflict will be resolved non-violently since all sides seem to be reconsidering their policies. Georgia's legitimate insistence on the preservation of its territorial integrity needs to be balanced with the Ossetians' concerns for the protection of their national minority rights."

Document(s): Open document

17.11.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

South-Ossetia: Some residents of ethnic Georgian villages Tamarasheni, Achabeti, Kurta and Kekhvi kidnapped by ethnic Ossetians; by way of reprisal, around 20 Ossetians reportedly taken hostage, 3 of them also beaten; Kemerti: 2 children injured in an explosion ("South Ossetia: Tentative Steps to Peace") [#27067],  [ID 5883]

Document(s): Open document

25.08.2004 - Source: EurasiaNet

South Ossetia: As a ceasefire remains in effect in South Ossetia, tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow are escalating ("South Ossetia crisis stokes tension between Russia and Georgia") [#25383],  [ID 5884]

Document(s): Open document

20.08.2004 - Source: BBC News

South Ossetia: at least 7 Georgian soldiers and 8 South Ossetian fighters killed in recent clashes/ Georgia has begun withdrawing troops and will hand over control to joint peacekeeping force ("Georgia starts S Ossetia pullout") [#24878],  [ID 5885]

Document(s): Open document

19.08.2004 - Source: BBC News

South Ossetia: Despite ceasefire 2 Georgian soldiers killed in fighting with South Ossetian troops/ Georgian government accuses Cossack fighters from Russia to back separatist forces ("Georgia blames Russian Cossacks") [#24856],  [ID 5886]

Document(s): Open document

17.08.2004 - Source: BBC News

South Ossetia: 1 Georgian soldier killed and 3 others injured in the latest fighting between Georgian and South Ossetian forces ("Heavy shelling batters S Ossetia") [#24769],  [ID 5887]

Document(s): Open document

16.08.2004 - Source: Guardian

South Ossetia: 7 people allegedly injured when South Ossetian forces targeted Georgian peacekeepers' positions outside Tskhinvali ("Georgian ceasefire broken") [#24759],  [ID 5888]

"Authorities in Georgia and its breakaway South Ossetia region accused each other of violating a ceasefire yesterday, a day after officials pledged to abide by the agreement.

Georgia's defence minister, Georgy Baramidze, said South Ossetian forces initiated exchanges of gunfire overnight, targeting Georgian peacekeepers' positions outside the separatist region's main city of Tskhinvali and wounding seven.

A South Ossetian government spokeswoman said Georgian forces carried out sporadic gunfire and mortar attacks on part of Tskhinvali and two Ossetian villages throughout the night"

Document(s): Open document

15.08.2004 - Source: BBC News

South Ossetia: officials from Georgia and the republic of South Ossetia agreed on ceasefire; however, according to Russian news agencies, the Georgian village of Eredvi came under fire the next day ("South Ossetia ceasefire discussed") [#24755],  [ID 5889]

Document(s): Open document

13.08.2004 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

South-Ossetia: reports of deaths, casualties and firing on villages located in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict ("OSCE Chairman deeply concerned over reported deaths in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict") [#24744],  [ID 5890]

Document(s): Open document

12.08.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: At least 3 Georgians killed and several wounded overnight in shooting near the Georgian village of Eredri ("Three Killed In Shooting In South Ossetia") [#24670],  [ID 5891]

"Police said the dead, all on the Georgian side, were killed near the Georgian village of Eredri.

The independent television channel Rustavi-2, which carried the same information, also said that another person had been killed and several wounded when a mortar shell fell on a hospital in the Tamarasheni area on the Georgian side.

Earlier today, South Ossetia said Georgian forces shelled "several" villages in the separatist province, in the second consecutive day of fire in the area.

Late last night, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he is doing everything possible to prevent a "large-scale conflict" with South Ossetia."

Document(s): Open document

11.08.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: Separatists accused Georgian forces of having shelled "several" villages in the separatist province, injuring civilians and damaging buildings ("South Ossetia Claims Shelling By Georgian Forces") [#24671],  [ID 5892]

"Irina Gagloyeva, spokeswoman for South Ossetia's Information and Press Committee, claimed Georgia's military used mortars, antiaircraft weapons, and firearms in the incident early today. She said there have been civilian casualties in South Ossetia but gave no details.

Officials in Georgia did not immediately respond to the claim.

Tension between Georgia and South Ossetia has heightened following Tbilisi's decision to send security forces to the province, officially to combat smugglers. Six people were reportedly wounded early on 11 August when Georgian and South Ossetian forces traded fire in the area."

Document(s): Open document

29.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

South Ossetia: According to president Kokoity Georgian troops have been firing on Tskhinvali and on several villages; 2 civilians injured during clashes in Tskhinvali; Tbilisi denied attacks and accused South-Ossetia of shelling villages populated by ethnic Georgians ("Fresh fighting in South Ossetia") [#24374],  [ID 5893]

"President Eduard Kokoity said forces were firing on its main city Tskhinvali and on several villages in the region, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

A Tblisi spokesman denied an attack and accused South Ossetians of shelling villages populated by ethnic Georgians. [...]
Mr Kokoity claimed it was the beginning of "a well planned aggression" by the central government, Interfax said.

He was quoted as saying the attack involving mortars and artillery started late on Thursday evening and lasted two hours.

Georgian forces had also tried to enter the northern part of Tskhinvali but were stopped by local militia, he said. Two civilians are reported to have been injured.

The head of Russian peacekeeping forces in South Ossetia was quoted by AP news agency as saying that there was firing between Tskhinvali and a nearby ethnic Georgian village - but that exchanges had died down."

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26.07.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South Ossetia: Cossack officer sentenced to 3 months pretrial detention for entering Georgia without valid visa; he is suspected of intending to join the South Ossetian armed forces as a mercenary ("Georgian police arrest cossack officer in south ossetia ( Newsline Volume 8 Number 140)") [#24283],  [ID 5894]

"Georgian police detained Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
in the South Ossetian conflict zone on 22 July and took him to Tbilisi
where a district court subsequently sentenced him to three months'
pretrial detention for entering Georgia without a valid visa, Caucasus
Press reported. He is suspected of intending to join the South Ossetian
armed forces as a mercenary. Kuznetsov, whom Georgian media identified
as deputy ataman of the Kuban Cossacks, claimed he entered Georgia on a
sightseeing tour. The South Ossetian government issued a statement on
23 July protesting Kuznetsov's arrest, Interfax reported, while a Kuban
official said that the Kuban Cossack army has no record of an officer
named Vyacheslav Kuznetsov. LF"

Document(s): Open document

10.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

South Ossetia: 4 soldiers injured in the latest fighting between separatist forces and Georgian troops/ Georgian president issued a sharp warning to Russia not to get involved in armed conflict ("Georgia separatists fuel tensions") [#23934],  [ID 11000]

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08.07.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

South-Ossetia: Armed separatist forces raided a mostly ethnic Georgian village of Vanati and disarmed and detained some 30 to 40 Georgian peacekeepers; in a second incidents 2 Georgian soldiers were reportedly injured by South-Ossetian forces ("Tensions Rising In South Ossetia") [#23829],  [ID 5895]

Document(s): Open document

08.07.2004 - Source: EurasiaNet

South Ossetia: after attack on Georgian peacekeepers hopes are rapidly dying in Tbilisi and Moscow for a peaceful reconciliation over the status of the breakaway territory ("Fresh Crisis Threatens Peace In South Ossetia") [#23962],  [ID 10999]

Document(s): Open document

31.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

Georgian troops have been sent to separatist South Ossetia/ later reports said the troops had been withdrawn again ("Georgians 'sent to rebel region'") [#22975],  [ID 5896]

Document(s): Open document

15.01.2004 - Source: ReliefWeb

South-Ossetia: Report on the politicial, social and security situation as well as on the situation of returnees ("South Ossetia Briefing Note Jan 2004 (UN OCHA)") [#18753],  [ID 5897]

Document(s): Open document

01.12.2000 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

Danish Immigration Service: The police and the system in general are corrupt ("Report on roving attaché mission to Georgia") [#6081],  [ID 5898]

"There has not been armed conflict or clashes in South Ossetia since July 1992, and according to the Foreign Minister no soldiers have been killed since then. The Foreign Minister saw the presence of the Russian section of the peacekeeping force, which also consist of Georgians and Ossetians, as a guarantee of peace. The Foreign Minister felt that the South Ossetian section of the peacekeeping forces had a normal relationship with the Georgian section. He described the relationship between South Ossetia and Georgia as calm, and said that Georgia could freely use the South Ossetian road connection for journeys to Russia. He characterised the relationship between South Ossetia and the Georgians in South Ossetia as one of mutual confidence. Generally he thought that the situation in South Ossetia was better than in other Caucasian areas, also as regards crime.

The Norwegian Refugee Council in Tskhinvali reported that the sections of the peacekeeping forces do not patrol together. The Norwegian Refugee Council in Tbilisi added that the peacekeeping force has only a mandate to observe and report, but does not have any authority. There are South Ossetian police but they are not respected by both sides. The police and the system in general are corrupt. The Norwegian Refugee Council in Tskhinvali said that the situation was tense, and that armed clashes could occur between South Ossetians and Georgians. Despite a disarmament programme, there are still many weapons in circulation, and everyone is believed to be armed. Because of the weapons there are many accidents. There is also a great deal of crime in the area. An individual's safety is often just a matter of unfortunately being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The delegation was able to visit a Georgian family in a Georgian village, whose head was commander of the Georgian section of the peacekeeping force. He believed that the South Ossetian forces consisted of several groups which were not united in a single South Ossetian force. He also thought that the groups operated independently, are paramilitary and criminal, and also fight one another. He confirmed that everyone is armed, and that arms may be bought everywhere. There are often shootings but rarely murders.

The commander said that there was great tension between South Ossetians and Georgians. They could meet for a meal together, but as the wine flowed, they might begin to argue and the meal could end in quarrels and fights. The Georgians seldom went into the regional capital Tskhinvali, which was largely inhabited by South Ossetians, and the commander described one case in which a Georgian who had been into town was taken to a police station and beaten to death by the police"

Document(s): Open document