Russian Urges Georgia, South Ossetia To Show Restraint
A soldier in South Ossetia (file photo)
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21 September 2005 -- Russian has called upon Georgia and its separatist republic of South Ossetia to show restraint over yesterday's shelling incident that left several civilians wounded.
In comments posted on the ministry's website, spokesman Mikhail Kamynin urged both sides to continue searching for "constructive and peaceful solutions" to their sovereignty dispute.
South Ossetia accuses Georgian armed forces of shelling the city of Tskhinvali while residents were attending ceremonies to mark the 15th anniversary of the region's de facto independence from Tbilisi. Seven people, including a two-year-old girl, were wounded.
South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity said his government would suspend its participation in the four-party commission mandated to monitor the 1992 cease-fire agreement that put a formal end to the war with Georgia until Tbilisi apologizes over the incident.
Georgia denies any involvement and calls the incident a "provocation" from the separatist authorities.
(Russian Foreign Minstry statement/South Ossetian official statement)