Despite the repeated addresses of South Ossetia, including those within the frames of the Geneva Discussions, the authorities of Georgia has not settled the problem with the gas supply to Leningor District of South Ossetia, finding different pretexts, sometimes absolutely unacceptable, like control over the gas pipeline at its segment on the territory of South Ossetia, control over the distribution of gas, etc., stated the Deputy Plenipotentiary for Post-Conflict Settlement Merab Chigoev commenting on the reports of Georgian media sources on the suspension of water supply from South Ossetia to Georgia.
According to him, the author of the scribble did not bother to much to find the truth and pointing to the grave situation the residents of this South Ossetian district were facing, blamed the so-called "Russian occupants" for all deadly sins.
"What has been happening in reality in Leningor district and around it, as well as the root cause of the hardships of the population in Leningor and other villages on both sides of the Georgian-Ossetian borderline? The inhabitants of Leningor and several neighboring villages, predominantly Georgians, were receiving natural gas from Georgia. After the liberation of Leningor district from Georgian occupation in August 2008, the gas supply from Georgia was cut off", reminded Chigoev.
He underlined that "despite our repeated addresses, including those within the Geneva Discussion, the authorities of Georgia have not settled the problem with the gas supply to Leningor finding different pretexts, sometimes absolutely unacceptable, like control over the gas pipeline at its segment on the territory of South Ossetia, control over the distribution of gas, etc."
He stated that there were no technical reasons for the refusal to resume gas supply to Leningor and this could be confirmed by the OSCE expert who had seen the gas pipeline. "Hence, the Georgian authorities turned a purely humanitarian action aimed at mitigating the problems of the population into an instrument of political pressure over South Ossetia. In the meantime, notwithstanding the outrageous approach of the Georgian authorities, South Ossetia has not turned off the irrigation and potable water feeding many Georgian villages from the territory of South Ossetia", underlined Merab Chigoev.
He reported that few days ago, the administration of Lenignor had to switch off the potable water to villages of Kaspi and Dusheti districts of Georgia due to technical reasons, while the water from Tskhinval and Znaur district is being supplied to Georgia in its normal quantities, through the state of the irrigation system is critical. Chigoev also addressed the authorities of Georgia with a call to quit "political games and settle the problems of gas and water supply together in the interest of people who need elementary conditions for their living – heating and water for them and their families".
