Tbilisi (Georgia), November 8 (AP) Russian soldiers deployed in Georgia’s breakaway province of South Ossetia shot dead a Georgian civilian near the Line of Control. Georgia officials described the incident as a “most heinous act.”
The encounter reflects ongoing tensions in the region following the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, which ended with Moscow recognizing South Ossetia and another Georgian province of Abkhazia as independent states and increasing its military presence there.
Most of the world considers both breakaway regions to be part of Georgia, which was part of the former Soviet republic.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in a statement that a Russian soldier killed a Georgian citizen on Monday near the village of Kirbali while trying to illegally detain him.
“This incident confirms the current serious security situation,” he said.
“All relevant mechanisms have been activated and international partners have been informed,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from Russian officials or separatist officials in South Ossetia.
AP Surbhi Prashant
Pacific
