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Georgia Piles Up Police Force
Georgia unreasonably piles up police force in the area of its conflict with South Ossetia, RF Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Yury Popov told reporters Friday.
”Georgia is expanding police force with no reason whatsoever. The number of armed people goes up out of proportion to requirements. It naturally makes nervous South Ossetians and destabilizes the situation,” Popov emphasized.
As a result, South Ossetia is forced to act in haste and inadequately, the diplomat explained, warning that, if necessary, Russia can step up the peacekeeping contingent by 300.
Today’s number of peacekeepers there stands at 1,500, as Russia, South Ossetia and Georgia have 500 each. “There is the agreed reserve, we may widen the contingent by 900, 300 from each party,” Popov specified. “I think we will probably reach this decision if the threat to security emerges. So far, the peacekeepers have coped with their duties.”
Recently, however, the Georgian battalion has set to drifting out of the common command's control to be directly subordinate to Tbilisi leadership. Asked whether Georgia could be preparing for war through such actions, Popov said that there is such apprehension.
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Photo: Alexander Miridonov