Russia's MFA: Georgian party hampers refugees' return to South Ossetia

As reported by Gregory Karassin, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Russia, at a meeting with journalists, where the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was present, the process of refugees' return to South Ossetia is possible only provided the due safety conditions in the places of their former residence are created; however, Georgia is stubbornly hampering it.

"Naturally, we can't forget that Transcaucasia is the region, where interethnic relations are especially strained. These relations are an important factor for South Ossetia either. We're attentively watching the state of affairs in this sphere. In the post-conflict period, the authorities of Tskhinvali and Sukhumi pay attention to the conditions of the Georgians who live in the territory of South Ossetia," Mr Karassin has emphasized.

He has noted that the Leningori and Akhalgori District of South Ossetia have 30 percent of Ossetians and over 60 percent of Georgians, while the Gali District of Abkhazia has about 80 percent of Georgians and 20 percent of Abkhazians.

In the opinion of a Georgian political scientist Emil Adelkhanov, the situation, when all the parties have taken a tough line in this issue, does not contribute to settling the refugees' problem. Besides, according to his story, the formulation "create safety conditions" is by itself "unclear at all."

Meanwhile, according to Gregory Karassin, South Ossetia has all the conditions in place for Georgians' residence: "Schools with training in the Georgian language continue working; there is no discrimination at employment of Georgian nationals; law enforcement bodies control the issues of guarding the refugees' property and real estate; although in total 5143 civil residents of South Ossetia have been recognized victims of the Georgia's warfare against this republic."