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The Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev and Head of Protection Department of the ICRC mission in South Ossetia Gilles Hansoul discussed the results of the meeting in the ICRC Headquarters in Geneva on 27 January 2010, which took place between the SO Human Rights Commissioner David Sanakoev, Deputy Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Merab Chigoev and Deputy Head of Operations OP_East Djordje Drndanski.

Boris Chochiev, the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement, reported to media on the results of the 9th round of Geneva talks held on 28 January. According to him, Geneva participants had discussed issues, which were already on the agenda: "This is the question on non-use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia in accordance with Sarkozy-Medvedev agreements. Another important topic was the fate of missing South Ossetian citizens. We also discussed the resumption of natural gas to Leningor district tackled in the second working group dealing with humanitarian issues, including that of refugee return. The resumption of Incident Prevention Mechanism (IPRM) meetings was also touched upon. We have refused to participate in the IPRM before the Georgian authorities provide us with information on our abducted citizens".

The Ministry of Interior of the Republic of South Ossetia filed a criminal case against Malkhaz Akhvlediani, a Georgian citizen detained for illegal border-crossing, reported the Press-Service of the RSO MoI. "Malkhaz Akhvlediani was detained 31 January in southern outskirts of Tskhinval", reads the report.
"He is incriminated in illegal crossing of the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia. Presently, law enforcement bodies are investigating the case", reported the Press-Service.

The president of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity had an inspection visit to construction sites in Tskhinval. Deputy Prime-Minister Alexander Zelig, representatives of "Stroytechcontrol" and State Committee for Rehabilitation Projects accompanied him during his visit.

The Georgian authorities keep trying to destabilize the situation at the Georgian-Ossetian boundary line, including organization of open provocations, reported a source in the RSO law enforcement bodies.
According to this source, special services of RSO received information about the intentions of the Georgian side to attempt a delivery of unauthorized trucks with humanitarian aid.

"Neither the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) of RSO nor district administrations had received any official notifications or requests from the Georgian side or international organizations in relation to any planned actions or delivery of humanitarian aid to the territory of South Ossetia", stated Alan Pliev, Deputy MFA.
According to him, the intentions of Georgia to attach political implications speak for the fact that the needs of the local population hardly cause any interest among Georgian authorities. "It is more important for them to fuel tensions between the sides, moreover, there are consultations ongoing in Geneva, where along with security issues, the problems of interaction are discussed", said Pliev.

The President of the Republic of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity signed a decree on dismissal of Nigzar Gabaraev from the post of Minister of Health and Social Welfare of RSO. Eduard Kokoity issued a decree on appointing Nigzar Gabaraev as a State Advisor to the President of South Ossetia for Social Issues.

The South Ossetian Delegation to the 9th round of Geneva Talks is not going to focus on the discussions; it will address the position of the Co-Chairs in relation to the expected duration of these talks", stated Boris Chochiev, the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement in a phone conversation from Geneva.
"We see no results of these discussions, both in security issues, and humanitarian sphere. Therefore, we'll have different approach to the conversation", underlined the Special Representative.

As reported by Boris Chochiev, the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement, in the phone conversation, a meeting between the South Ossetian Delegation and the top officials of the UNHCR has been planned for 27 January in Geneva. According to him, "the South Ossetian authorities had contacts with this organization before the Georgian aggression of 2008. The UN High Commissioner for António Guterres visited South Ossetia after the aggression through Russia, not Georgia. In Vladikavkaz he met with our refugees, and in Tskhinval, as a result of his meeting with the President Eduard Kokoity, the sides had agreed that the UNCHR would not connect its work with politics and would assist the people of South Ossetia affected by Georgian aggression.

On 22 January, a working meeting of the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev and Foreign Minister Murat Djioev with the official delegation of the Geneva Discussions’ Co-Chairs took place. During the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to all aspects of the Geneva talks, including the problems to be discussed at the 9th round.