Russian MFA: Georgian refugees have the right to return to South Ossetia

Yesterday, on August 17, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) informed that, despite the statement of President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity, Georgian refugees are fully entitled to return to their villages abandoned by them after aggravation of the conflict. However, Moscow believes that their comeback will take plenty of time.

Let us note here that earlier the president of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity declared that Georgian villages in South Ossetia had been completely "cleared-up" and no more Georgians would be admitted there.

In the opinion of Russian MFA, the leader of the non-recognized republic made "this emotional statement under the influence of the situation after the massed armed attack undertaken by Georgian authorities on South Ossetia."

The "Kommersant" newspaper writes in its today's issue that South Ossetia is purposefully burning down Georgian villages. Eduard Kokoity said, answering the question on factual destruction of Georgian enclaves: "Should we admit being shelled from there? Shooting at our back and scoffing at our people?"

Meanwhile, the "Novye Izvestia" had reported earlier that South-Ossetian troops and territorial armed units were burning down and plundering Georgian villages in South Ossetia.

The Human Rights Watch is also evidencing arsons and marauding in villages of South Ossetia. Tatiana Lokshina, a representative of the organization who is now in the conflict zone, reports that only feeble old men remain in villages; their situation is catastrophic, they have no food or water, and nobody helps them. The "Echo Moskvy" Radio reports that human rights activists find the situation to be "absolutely inadmissible."