Statement by the Government of Georgia regarding the armed attack on five civilians in the Sachkhere district on May 18 2011
Two Georgian citizens were shot and injured today, one gravely, when occupation forces from Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia opened fire on them. The incident occurred at about 8 a.m. as five young men from the Chalvani village were collecting edible plants in the Chonto valley, Sachkhere District, near the occupation line.
Occupation forces attempted to detain them, but the men (ages 17, 21, 22, 26 and 27) managed to escape. As they did, occupants opened fire, wounding two citizens, including a 17-year-old pupil from a local school who remains hospitalized in a grave condition.
Four other Georgian citizens who were also collecting plants were apprehended today and are being illegally detained.
The Government of Georgia believes that this incident is a criminal and brutal act which escalates tensions in the areas adjacent to Georgia's occupied regions.
Other Georgian citizens were already illegally detained in Tskhinvali region/ South Ossetia before today's incident, despite firm demands for their release by the international community.
Today’s incident and the on-going detentions illustrate that the Russian Federation and its proxies continue to pursue a policy aimed at destabilizing and terrorizing the local population.
The Government of Georgia insists that responsibility for today’s incident, as well as the fate of the detained persons, rests with the Russian Federation, as an occupying state.
In addition to recent series of terrorist acts deep inside Georgia that were directed from the occupied territories, the Russian forces are further escalating tensions.
Such actions by the Russian Federation are in gross violation of the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, as well the explicit commitments made by the Russian delegation at the Geneva discussions not to undertake any violent action against local residents moving around or even crossing the occupation line.
The Government of Georgia calls on the Russian Federation to take concrete steps to put an end to terrorist acts and similar aggressive actions, to reciprocate Georgian commitment of non-use of force, allow EUMM to access the occupied territories, comply with the August 12th 2008 Ceasefire agreement and withdraw its troops from Georgia.
Comments