The events taking place on August 7-8 in Tskhinvali region

On 7 August 2008, State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration visited Tskhinvali. The aim of the visit was to introduce peace initiatives as well as organize bilateral meeting with representatives of separatist regime with the view to achieve de-escalation of the existing tense situation. It is worth mentioning that there was an agreement with the Russian side, which stood as a guarantor for organization of bilateral meeting. To this end, Juri Popov, Ambassador at large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation arrived in Tbilisi, who shirked its obligations before Georgian side resulting in the outright refusal of separatists to meet with the State Minister.
Subsequently, President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili address separatists and citizens of Georgia. He indicated that he repeatedly appeal the separatist leadership to cease fire and resume direct talks. He reiterated his peace initiatives that envisage offering wide autonomy to South Ossetia with international guarantees and human right protection of all ethnic Ossetian people. The President of Georgia also offered Russia to be a guarantor of the Autonomy of South Ossetia within the unified territory of Georgia. As the President mentioned, all these efforts are directed for the population of South Ossetia to feel secure and protected by the international community.

According to Saakashvili, in the light of existing situation Georgian side maintains continuous contacts with the commanders of Russian peacekeeping forces and authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

In the closing part of his appeal, Saakashvili declared moratorium on cease-fire with the view to avoid further confrontation.

Meanwhile, Roki tunnel remains the main source for leakage of illegal arms and military manpower into the territory of Sovereign Country, for this reason, the Georgian government calls for establishing joint control over Roki tunnel as well as increase in the number of OSCE military observers.

Georgian government undertook all its best efforts to ensure peace and order in conflict zones. Despite the efforts taken by the Georgian side, the separatists continued intensive shooting and attacked the Georgian villages Friso (at 22.30 P.M.) and Tamarasheni (at 23:30 P.M.). Consequently, mass bombardment left casualties among peaceful population.

Considering existing tense situation, Georgia was forced to open fire with the view to exterminate separatist criminal formations, protect peaceful population and establishing constitutional order in Tskhinvali Region.

Russian government started full-scale military operation not only in the conflict zone, but also carried out an air attack on separate cities and residential areas located in nearby Tbilisi: Marneuli, Bolnisi, Gori, Vaziani, Village Tsedisi in the district of Oni and village Variani in the district of Kareli.

Such actions directly speak about open support to the separatists under disguise of protection of Russian citizens residing in Tskhinvali Region.

High rank officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation personally are in charge of spreading disinformation campaign accusing Georgia of ethnic cleansing in Tskhinvali Region referring to both Russian peacekeepers and peaceful population. By that time, the Russian Military air forces exercised extensive bombardment of Tskhinvali, where peaceful Ossetian population with Russian citizenship became hostages as a result of such bombardments.