Russia’s military aggression against Georgia and the occupation of Georgian territories in August 2008 caused the damage of the Agara-Tskhinvali gas pipeline. As a result, natural gas supply to the population of the Tskhinvali region was cut off. Reports of the OSCE Mission to Georgia dated 16 and 23 December 2008 also make mention of the gas pipeline damage near the village of Dirbi.

Fully informed about this problem the Georgian side came up as an initiator to carry out all necessary works to ensure restoration of safe natural gas supply in the shortest possible time. Hence, all allegations of Russia that the Georgian side had deliberately cut off natural gas supply to the region are plainly absurd.

Also totally immoral are Russia’s accusations against Georgia of the aggravation of the humanitarian situation given the Russian occupation of a considerable part of Georgian territories in August 2008, ethnic cleansing, mass expulsion of the local population, both Georgian and Ossetian, and denial of access to the international organizations, including humanitarian aid, to the aforesaid territories.

The village of Dirbi is located in the immediate vicinity of the administrative border of the Tskhinvali Region, i.e.  in the high risk zone. The Georgian side, however, launched restoration works on this section of the gas pipeline being, though, aware that examination of the full length of the pipeline would in any case be necessary for technical security reasons.

Russia’s accusation that Georgia along with international organizations allegedly ignored Tskhinvali’s readiness to conduct unbiased inspection of the pipeline can be seen as nothing but a vivid example of libel and cheap provocation. These allegations of Russia serve the only goal of misleading the international community and discrediting the Georgian side given the fact that the issue of the region’s gas supply was posed from the very outset and in the most urgent manner by OSCE and the European Union as well as by the Georgian side.  

With OSCE’s immediate involvement and mediation, work is currently underway to engage with the local authorities to ensure inspection of the gas pipeline running throughout the territories whether controlled by the Georgian side or occupied by Russia. The Georgian side hopes that once these works are completed natural gas supply will be restored in line with technical security rules, based on constructive cooperation.

31 December 2008

Press and Information Department