Pre-dawn attack from the Gali district on the Georgian Interior Ministry’s checkpoint near the village of Ganmukhuri, Zugdidi district, on January 5, 2007 caused the loss of a human life from the Georgian side.

The attack can be seen as yet another link in a chain of criminal acts taking place recently in the Gali district. Of special concern is the fact that this attack occurred in the security zone controlled by the Russian peacekeepers, who took no trouble to prevent it. The consequence is a gross violation of the cease-fire regime between the conflicting sides stemming from the Russian peacekeepers’ failure to comply with their principal mandated obligation.

Besides, in this case the decisions of the UN Security Council, in particular Resolution N1716 that urges both parties to comply fully with previous agreements regarding cease-fire and non-use of violence, were completely neglected.

The developments of the last few days have clearly pointed to the righteousness of the Georgian side’s proposals to modify the peace operation format and to deploy a more effective and impartial contingent in the region.

The Georgian side considers this incident as a carefully planned and deliberate provocation aimed at further escalating the tension in the conflict zone that, there is much likelihood, may lead to irreparable consequences.  

Having noted that, the Georgian side urges the UN Observer Mission in Georgia to investigate this incident, establish facts and take all necessary measures to avoid recurrence of such violence in the future.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia strongly condemns this criminal act and calls on the international community, including the Secretary General’s Group of Friends, to appropriately assess the provocative activity taking place in the region and take a due action on it.

Tbilisi,   January 5, 2007