The Russians reoccupy the village and the checkpoint of Perevi

(B2) Not even 24 hours, the Russian withdrawal from Perevi did not last long. When the news of the withdrawal learned, a European expert from Georgia warned me: "it is now necessary to verify that the Russians have indeed withdrawn". He was not wrong in this caution. While the Georgian special police units had been deployed, the Russians returned in the night in force. About 300 to 500 paratroopers retook the village. A patrol of the EUMM - the EU observation mission - had been checked on the spot. And she could see it : " Russian troops reoccupied Perevi, and even deployed a considerable number of troops in and around the village. In addition, the army
Russia prevented EU ambassadors (*) from visiting the village. No information is available on the village itself." The Lithuanian ambassador, Mecys Laurinkus, claimed to have seen between 20 or 30 soldiers, directly, "without being able to detail the number of soldiers who were in the village".

In a statement, the EUMM denounced: "this Russian military occupation of the Perevi checkpoint, and of the village, incompatible with the provisions of the Medvedev-Sarkozy peace plan." He adds : "the restriction of the freedom of movement of ambassadors is unacceptable under all instruments of international law". And "invite"so the Russian government to "withdraw its units (...) without delay".

(NGV)

(*) French, Estonian, Romanian, Lithuanian and Dutch diplomats were present.

Photo: Eumm Georgia