26 November 2009, 22:20
South Ossetia offers Georgia to exchange detainees on condition "all for all"
As reported today by Stanislav Kochiev, chairman of the parliament of South Ossetia, who is now in Moscow, South Ossetia offers Georgia to make a simultaneous exchange of all detained Georgians and Ossetians without any preconditions.
As earlier reported by the "Caucasian Knot", South Ossetia is still keeping four Georgian teenagers, residents of Tirdznisi village, Gori District of Georgia. According to the South-Ossetian party, grenades and explosives were found on the boys. Tbilisi treats the detention of teenagers as Russia's "kidnapping" and "provocation".
According to Mr Kochiev, 85 citizens of Georgia were detained in the territory of South Ossetia since January this year. "Mainly because of illegal crossing the border," said the MP and added that practically all these persons were handed over to the Georgian party without any conditions.
At the same time, according to his version, about 25 citizens of South Ossetia were detained in Georgia. "We suggest to exchange all for all," said Kochiev and added that the South-Ossetian party has information that the Ossetians were tortured by the police, the "Gazeta.Ru" reports.
There was no reaction of Georgia to Kochiev's words; however, today the European Parliament passed a special statement on the teenagers detained by Tskhinvali.
The "Georgia Online" reports that the statement insists on immediate release of the teenagers.