Archive - 3/2010

The US. Embassy in Russia did not timely issue visas to representatives of the Republic of South Ossetia. As one of the members of the South Ossetian delegation David Sanakoev reported to RES Agency, representatives of South Ossetia should participate in the Georgian-Ossetian dialogue hosted by George Mason University. "The South Ossetian delegation of four members should participate in the dialogue, but unfortunately, two persons did not timely receive visas.

South Ossetia considers the report of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Walter Kaelin as another product of double standards policy, stated the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev. Commenting on the Report voiced by Kaelin at the 13th UN session on human rights, Chochiev noted that the report created an impressions that "Kaelin, who visited South Ossetia in November 2009, spoke with indignation about Georgia authorities when he saw ruined houses and schools, and Kaelin, who voiced his report in Switzerland, are different people" "We fully understand that no one will allow anyone to tell the whole truth about things seen in South Ossetia. But I did not think that he would not dare telling at the session things that he described in his report after his visit here in November 2009", said the Special Representative.

On 9 March 2010, a working session on preparation of an agreement between the Defense Ministries of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation on the status of deployed military bases in South Ossetia was held at the Embassy of South Ossetia in the RF. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of South Ossetia in the Russian Federation Dmitry Medoev, Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Yury Tanaev, First Deputy Defense Minister Maj.Gen. Ibragim Gassiev, Defense Ministry Chief of Staff Col.

Council of Europe independent experts Bruce Pegg and Nicolas Sebire arrived in South Ossetia with a two-day visit. In Tskhinval, the experts are meeting representatives of law enforcement bodies of South Ossetia, South Ossetian citizens lately released from Georgian prisons – Lev Tekhov, Pavel Tekhov and Ahmed Kaziev. The experts are also meeting relatives of the abducted and missing citizens of South Ossetia.

Heavy snowfalls might lead to limitations or even blockage of the TRANSKAM road connecting South Ossetia and Russia, reported the duty service of the South Ossetian government. "So far, the road has been functioning normally, but heavy snowfalls continued and it might lead to limited or blocked movement", reported the service.

The Georgian citizens detained on 2 March 2010 in the village of Kalet, Znaur district, were expelled from South Ossetia, reported the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev. According to him, "Ivan Muladze, 1985, and Nino Altsnauri, 1980, after necessary proceedings followed locally, were returned to the territory of Georgia the same day. Before that, they were allowed to meet their relatives in Znaur district of South Ossetia". "Despite the fact that under similar conditions, the authorities of Georgia immediately put people in jail, the issue of their release becomes a matter of cynical and disgusting bargaining, the South Ossetian side has again demonstrated its humane and just attitude", said the Special Representative.

On 3 March 2010, the "Agreement between the Governments of the Russian Federation and South Ossetia on visa free travel for citizens of the RF and SO" entered into force. In accordance with this Agreement, citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia may enter, depart from and stay in the Russian Federation without visa required for a period of 90 days.

On 2 March 2010, Russian FSB Border-guards in South Ossetia detained two unidentified persons in the village of Kalet, Znaur district, reported the press-service of the Border-Guards Department. “200 meters from the state border of South Ossetia, man and a woman traveling from Georgia were detained. The trespassers had no ID documents with them. The detained persons stated that they were Georgian citizens, who passed the border to visit their relatives on the territory of South Ossetia, in the village of Znaur,” reads the press-service report.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivered assistance in seeds and fertilizers to residents of Znaur district of South Ossetia. As reported the Head of Economic Security Department of the ICRC Office in Tskhinval Azim Noorani, each family received a sack of potatoes, vegetable seeds and fertilizers. “This humanitarian assistance will be delivered to all residents of this district. The population is satisfied with the received aid and expressed appreciation to the ICRC”, said Noorani.