Georgian authorities keep 15,000 ethnic Ossetians at checkpoints, use them for propaganda

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Russia has initiated cooperation with the Georgian side at the border checkpoints, facilitating return of residents of South and North Ossetia who are currently in Georgia to their homes. Russian Foreign Ministry's representative Andrey Nesterenko informed journalists of the situation at a briefing in Moscow Sep 1, 2008, REGNUM correspondent reports.

According to the diplomat, Russia's efforts have brought results: about 1,000 Russian citizens have returned home through the Verkhny Lars checkpoint. Still, up to 15,000 Russian citizens, ethnic Ossetians, remain in the territory of Georgia. They have difficulties in returning home and are looking for ways to do it through the territories of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, Nesterenko stated. Tbilisi is using the civilians in a political propaganda show, keeping them at checkpoints.

''Tbilisi wants to make the puppet government of Dmitry Sanakoyev a guarantor of the ethnic Ossetians' returning home. We have been informed that the Georgian border control officers do not let Ossetians through their checkpoints until a Sanakoyev's groups arrive,'' the Russian MFA envoy said. Russia is concerned with the Georgia's attempts to win some propaganda points by using the problem, Nesterenko stated. 

По его словам, российская сторона также оказывает помощь гражданам Грузии, оказавшимся на территории Грузии без документов.