Georgia, Tbilisi / Тrend corr N. Kirtskhalia / Georgia is trying to show the world's community how irresponsible peacekeepers in conflict zones are, the Chairman of Temporary Parliamentary Commission on Restoration of Georgia's Territorial Integrity, Shota Malashkhiya said while commenting on the detention of Russian peacekeepers in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict area.
During the night from 9 to 10 July, Georgian police detained two Russian peacekeepers in Georgian-Abkhazian conflict area. Andrei Kuts and Maxim Korenev were detained due to illegal inspection of civilians in Zugdidi. Both were drunk and made drivers of passing-by cars provide identification. Local residents expressed a negative attitude towards the arbitrariness of the Russian soldiers. Police took away the arms from the peacekeepers and they did not show resistance. A criminal case was filed with respect to both peacekeepers. After several hours of interrogation, Kuts and Korenev were returned to the Russian administration of peacekeeping forces.
According to Malashkhia, in such cases Georgia can act within the framework of its laws, reveal any case of abuse of power by peacekeepers, and dispatch them to UN supervisors in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict area and the OSCE mission in the Georgian-South Osetia conflict area. "Russian peacekeepers serving in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict area since 1994 lost 112 people. Most of them committed suicide, which reflects an unhealthy moral atmosphere among the peacekeepers," the Chairman stated.
Answering the question whether such cases will negatively affect Georgian-Russian relationships and what reaction official Tbilisi expects from Russia, the Georgian politician stated, " Georgia does not care what Russia's understanding is of such cases".