Государственное информационное агентство "Рес"

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.

Tskhinval (ICRC) 1 March 2010 – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today launched a program of agricultural support to rural populations affected by the conflict. Close to 4'000 households (approximately 10'000 individuals) will receive a package of potatoes, vegetable seeds, fertilizer and insecticide. The distribution of in-kind agricultural inputs is designed to increase the productivity of vegetables and orchard crops in rural areas on which many people rely for their subsistence.

The CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Tomas Hammarberg and tow independent experts are arriving in South Ossetia, reported South Ossetian Ombudsman David Sanakoev. They will meet with the South Ossetian HR Commissioner and the relatives of the South Ossetian citizens captured by Georgian authorities, and with the relatives of those who went missing. “During the meetings, the CoE will try to obtain the information about the circumstances in which the persons were captured, as well as details of their whereabouts after the disappearance available with their relatives”, said Sanakoev. “European human rights defenders intend to investigate the circumstances of abduction of South Ossetian citizens by Georgian law enforcers during after the August 2008 hostilities”, underlined the Ombudsman.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Tomas Hammarberg arrived in Tskhinval. He is accompanied by independent experts to carry out an investigation into circumstances of abduction of South Ossetian citizens by Georgian law enforcers during the hostilities in August 2008 and after.
The two independent experts Bruce Pegg and Nicolas Sebir already had a meeting with relatives of South Ossetian citizens captured by Georgian authorities, now they are having a meeting with the relatives of the missing South Ossetian citizens.