( Civil Georgia ) - South Ossetian secessionist leader Eduard Kokoity is fully responsible for recent escalation of tensions in the conflict zone, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on May 14.
He said, "we can not follow path of violence" and called on the international community, including Russia, to take "an active stance" in order to prevent further escalation of tensions.
At least two people were wounded as a result of a shootout in the conflict zone late on May 12. Authorities in Tskhinvali continue blocking roads towards the Georgian villages. The South Ossetian side said it will unblock roads only after Tbilisi pulls out its forces and disbands its "puppet government" led by Dimitri Sanakoev.
PM Nogaideli said at a news conference that "it is unacceptable to talks with us on the language of blackmail."
He reiterated that Tbilisi will continue talks with head of a provisional administration in South Ossetia Dimitri Sanakoev.
"We will talk with everyone who is ready to have a dialogue with us and Dimitri Sanakoev is a person who wants to have a dialogue," PM Nogaideli said.
"Sanakoev represents interests of more residents of South Ossetia than Kokoity does," he added.
But he also said that the Georgian side is ready for a dialogue with the Tskhinvali-based authorities as well.
He said that Russian chief negotiator for South Ossetian issues Yuri Popov plans to visit Georgia to discuss possibility to continue negotiations in frames of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission.