Situation stable near Tskhinvali region as S. Ossetian ultimatum expires
Deputy Interior Ministry of Georgia Vladimer Bortsvadze, Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia, EU Monitoring Mission observers are in the village of Chorchana. Photo: Interior Ministry press office.
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The situation remains stable in the village of Chorchana, located in Khashuri Municipality, near the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region since 06:00 AM when the ultimatum of the Ossetian side expired.
The Ossetian side demanded the Georgian side dismantle a police checkpoint that is located on Georgia-controlled area and gave time by 06:00 AM, August 30.
Employees of the Georgian Interior Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia, EU Monitoring Mission observers are in the area.
Deputy Minister of Interior Ministry Vladimer Bortsvadze said the situation is stable and under control.
All required mechanisms have been activated to regulate all controversial issues via constructive collaboration, without any excesses and escalation,” Vladimer Bortsvadze said.
The Ossetian and Russian sides cancelled yesterday’s talks (the 95th session of Incidents Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) with the Georgian side in Russia-occupied Ergneti village as they left the session in protest.
The Georgian side stated ‘the language of ultimatums’ is unacceptable and the Georgian police checkpoint will not be dismantled as it is located in Georgia-controlled area.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has released a statement today and called on the international community to properly assess developments near the occupation line between Georgia and Tskhinvali region.
Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs releases a statement regarding the latest developments at the occupation line, close to the village Chorchana situated in the territory controlled by the government of Georgia.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses concern about mobilisation of military equipment and personnel by the occupation forces at the occupation line, close to the village Chorchana situated in the territory controlled by the government of Georgia,” reads the statement.
De facto official of the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, Egor Kochiev said the Georgian police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana in Khashuri Municipality, close to Tskhinvali should be dismantled by 6 a.m. Friday, August 30.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has invited foreign diplomats to discuss the tense situation near the occupation line with the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region, in Khashuri Municipality. The diplomats have convened in the foreign ministry as the 95th session of Incidents Prevention and Response Mechanism (IRPM) in Russia-occupied Ergneti village, attended by Georgian, Russian and so-called Ossetian government members fell apart today.
Russian occupation forces have appeared near the village of Chorchana, Khashuri Municipality today. The village is located in the vicinity of the Russia - occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The State Security Service of Georgia reports that military equipment of the occupation forces has been detected moving in the area.
The United States is “monitoring reports of military buildup near the administrative boundary line (ABL) of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of South Ossetia”. The US Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus released a statement on her official Twitter account today.
The Russian Foreign Ministry shared “serious concern over the escalation of tension on the border between South Ossetia and Georgia” caused by the construction of Georgian police checkpoint close to the villages of Chorchana and Tsnelisi on both sides of the occupation line.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives said “Russia must immediately cease its destructive behaviour and respect Georgian sovereignty”. In a statement released on August 30, the Foreign Affairs Committee said “Russia’s further militarisation of South Ossetia is outrageous and unacceptable".
The US has called ‘for those responsible’ to provide a full account of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Georgian citizens Irakli Kvaratskhelia, Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria and David Basharuli in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has offered the Normandy format of dialogue with Russia, the format Ukraine has with the country.