In accordance with the inter-state treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia on joint border guarding, the Russian Border-Guards entered upon their duties in South Ossetia. This has been reported by head of Regional Border Guard Department of the RF FSB in South Federal District Nikolai Lisinski at the press-conference in Tskhinval.
According to him, “taking over the Ossetian-Georgian part of the border by Russian border-guards aims at strengthening security, guaranteeing social and cultural development, increasing living standards of the population in borderline areas.” “The location of border guard forces at the borders of South Ossetia is a precondition for stability and security in South Ossetia and in the whole Caucasus”, stated Lisinski.
He also reported that “Alexander Murzin was appointed as the head of Border-guard Department of the RF FSB in South Ossetia”.
”We will start equipping the state border this year. There will be about 20 cantonments built up. Having sighed the agreement, we entered upon our responsibilities. Major part of the forces brought to South Ossetia had already been deployed at the border of South Ossetia and started fulfilling their tasks”, stressed Lisinski. He did not mention the number of troops brought to South Ossetia, though noting that their number is enough to fulfill the tasks. “The Department of Border-Guard Forces will be located in Tskhinval, the rest will be located along the border”, said Lisinski.
He also made it clear that the deployment of Russian border-guards in South Ossetia was not related to the upcoming NATO exercise in Georgia.
“We have bee making necessary preparatory arrangements upon the request from the authorities of South Ossetia and Abkhazia for a long time. Due to absence of a relevant agreement, we did not manage to take over the duties until now”, said Lisinski.
“The border should be securely locked up to be inaccessible for enemies. Transparent and accessible border is those who come with peaceful intentions, especially for those who come with solutions to certain social and economic problems. It means, life should go on”, added Lisinski.
