Russia Cautions Georgia Against 'Irresponsible Statements'

22 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry today cautioned Georgia against making what it called "irresponsible statements."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin referred to Tbilisi's charges over the recent disappearance of an ethnic Georgian child in the separatist republic of South Ossetia.

The 11-year-old Geno Petriashvili was reportedly abducted on 19 August near the village of Nuli, west of South Ossetia's capital of Tskhinvali.

The Georgian Interior Minister has accused the South Ossetian leadership and Russian peacekeepers stationed in the region of being involved in the abduction.

Both South Ossetia and Russia have denied the charge.

Kamynin today said the Georgian accusations can only increase tensions in the conflict zone and negatively impact relations between Moscow and Tbilisi.

(RIA-Novosti/RFE/RL)

See also:

"Tbilisi's Moves Raise Fears In South Ossetia"