The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has information that relatives of the citizen of Georgia Z. Gakheladze, who is serving a sentence in South Ossetia for illegally crossing the state border of South Ossetia and the use of firearms against military personnel of the Republic's border service, being incited by the Georgian authorities and some representatives of the non-governmental sector, are preparing a provocation - an attempt to cross illegally the state border of South Ossetia.
It should be emphasized that all actions against the citizen of Georgia Z. Gakheladze were carried out within the framework of the law, there are no reasons for concern about his condition. Moreover, out of humane considerations, he was provided with additional opportunities - almost daily conversations with his family on the phone, constant medical supervision, out-of-order receipt of parcels from relatives.
Unfortunately, this humanitarian practice applied to a Georgian citizen was not appreciated in Georgia, and was responded with steps that are beyond civilized boundaries. The systematic fanning of hysteria, the announcement of illegal actions at the state border, based on absurd ultimatums - these actions cannot be viewed in Tskhinval otherwise than as preparation for another Georgian provocation fraught with dangerous destabilization of the situation in the border territories.
According to a long-standing tradition, the next aggravation is provoked by the Georgian side on the eve of the 53rd round of GID, scheduled for June 29-30.
Against the background of the alarming situation that is taking shape, we call on the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia to take measures to prevent another Georgian adventure and prevent a dangerous development of events.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia responsibly declares that in the event of the aggravation of the situation, the South Ossetian side will have to suppress independently the threat to security emanating from the territory of Georgia and take all envisaged measures to ensure the inviolability of the state border. The responsibility for possible consequences of the provocation will fall entirely on the Georgian side.
Tskhinval, June 22, 2021