Concerning Situation in Zone of Georgian-Ossetian Conflict

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

The Georgian side in violation of existing provisions undertook an extraordinary rotation of its peacekeeping contingent in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

In this connection the South Ossetian population in the Tskhinvali area blocked the Georgian servicemen's advance into the conflict zone. In its turn, the Georgian side shut off a number of routes on the Trans-Transcaucasian Highway to South Ossetia. In this situation, gathering in Moscow, the cochairmen of the Mixed Control Commission (MCC) from Russia, North Ossetia and South Ossetia, deemed it possible as a gesture of goodwill this time to give the go-ahead for an extraordinary rotation of the Georgian contingent.

The MCC cochairmen from Russia, North Ossetia and South Ossetia have appealed to the parties in conflict to take action to lift the appropriate blockade.

February 20, 2006