South Ossetia restricts entry of foreigners until presidential election

Entry into South Ossetia from the Russian Federation has been temporarily and partially limited until the presidential elections scheduled for November 13.

"Entry is limited to certain categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons.

These restrictions also cover partially the citizens of Russia," stated today Murat Djioev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia.

"Limitation is not applied to Russian citizens serving at the military base in South Ossetia, officers of the Border Guard Service of the Russian FSB, their families, citizens engaged in reconstruction work, and citizens travelling to South Ossetia on the various family matters," Mr Djioev has clarified.

According to the Minister, these measures are taken to ensure the stability and public security and are not contrary to the law, the "Interfax" reports.

Earlier, entry to South Ossetia has been already hampered, observers note.

"Dagestani coaches and, on September 30, 50 Ossetian athletes failed to enter South Ossetia. At the same time, the government websites of South Ossetia reported to simplify the procedure for crossing the border with Georgia," in particular, blogger roks-alana writes in "Live Journal".