Kokoity: investigation into Red Cross robbery in Tskhinvali should be given special priority

President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity said at the meeting with top managers of his republic that the investigation into the robbery of the Tskhinvali-based office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) should get special attention; and nobody should have any claims to the South-Ossetian party.

The robbery attack op the ICRC office was committed at night on April 29. A criminal case was initiated and the investigation is underway. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the President's Administration that the investigation is under Eduard Kokoity's personal supervision.

"After the incident, many officials and the Republic's leadership visited our office, expressed their support in telephone conversations and tried to assure in every possible way that this deplorable incident has nothing to do with the population's attitude to the work of the ICRC mission in South Ossetia," said Marina Tedeti, spokeswoman of the press service of the Red Cross in South Ossetia.

She has added that local residents also expressed their regret and offered help.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported earlier that right after the robbery the press service made a statement that in spite of the incident the ICRC would go on in its usual way towards realizing its humanitarian mission.

Inal Pliev, an employee of the investigatory department, gave some details of the attack to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, at night on April 29, at about 1:30 a.m. (securities could not recollect the exact times) two unidentified persons in masks and armed by pistols rushed into the premises of the humanitarian organization.

Two armless securities could not render any essential resistance.

The criminals took away a safe, two computers and a sum of about 2000 roubles and disappeared. One of the securities was injured.