30 July 2004, 21:57
Night fire on Tskhinval - details
Tskhinval was under massive fire for the whole night of July 29-30. Georgian armed units fired on the town from the direction of Georgian villages of Tamarasheni, Pris and Nikozi reaching residential areas of the town. People in suburban districts of Tskhinval spent the night in basements of their houses. President Kokoity called the developments of this night an attempt of Georgia's armed aggression against South Osetia. Four police officers from the Osetian side, Gazayev, Dzhioyev, Pliyev and Khubulov, were slightly wounded as a result of the fire. There is no information about people suffered from the Georgian side.
Combined Peacekeeping Forces Commander General Nabzdorov stated the exchange of fire might have started after a burst of sub-machine gun fire made by one of the sides. The South Osetian side points to the fact that right at that moment there was a live broadcast on the Georgian television from Jerusalem where Mikhail Saakashvili was meeting with the Georgian community of Jews. Representatives of the Republic of South Osetia believe Mr Saakashvili's words that Georgia will restore "our Tskhinval, our Sukhum and Gagra" may have become a psychological catalyst that induced the Georgian units to start firing on the capital of the breakaway republic.
As the Caucasian Knot correspondent was told in the United Press Center of South Osetia, each time night fires start and finish with a signal flare from the Georgian side, which shows that the actions are scheduled.
Author: Inga Kochiyeva, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot
