Commissionaire of the CoE Discovered Disappeared Ossetian People

News sources from the South Ossetian de-facto government described the visit of the Human Rights Commissionaire of the CoE Thomas Hammarberg to Tskhinvali in details. Among them the negotiation with the leader of the separatist government Eduard Kokoity… Tskhinvali media sources described the visit details based on initial sources.
 
In Tskhinvali on November 30, Thomas Hammarberg had first to answer questions about the information spread by Georgian media sources that the commissionaire was not allowed through the checkpoint. Thomas Hammarberg reported to Ossetian journalists that “at the checkpoint the parties agreed on the schedule of the day. Later I returned and as you see I am here. Nobody has delayed me.”
 
European Commissionaire met episcope of Alania Giorgi on the very first day of his visit. The Episcope told Hammarberg that he often meets parents of Ossetian people who disappeared on the territory controlled by Georgian side. They are still considered to be missed. The Episcope told the commissionaire that according to his information, the Ossetian people have been arrested and are in Georgian detention setting. The Episcope of Alania also wanted to hear the opinion of Hammarberg about this issue.
 
According to the Ossetian printed media, Hammarberg learned about this issue from the episcope for the first time and his explanation was consequent. “You know, I work in Strasbourg and I am quite far from here. Furthermore, the information spread by media does not always expose the reality. I try to get real information and have arrived here for this purpose. It is clear for me that we have two obligations; one – to decrease challenges of the conflict and second – protect human rights. I am grateful that the “ice has started to melt” and we will do our best to release detainees. Personally I and our office are eager to assist these people. We are completely free from political influence.”
 
The Episcope Giorgi expressed hope that people responsible for this crime will be punished. “We want arrested people and hostages to be released promptly and without any complications,” said the Episcope.
 
Thomas Hammarberg first heard from the Episcope that missing Ossetian people might have already been killed. The parents of the missing people reported this fact to Hammerberg.
 
Hammarberg’s Comment on Minashvili’s Statement
 
After having spoken with the episcope, Thomas Hammarberg met Eduard Kokoiti. During the meeting Hammarberg mentioned the statement of the Georgian MP Akaki Minashvili who blamed him in inactivity and loyalty towards Russia.
 
“I was criticized because of my unbiased activities and honesty. I am eager to support the families from both sides,” said Hammarberg.
 
According to Ossetian media, Thomas Hammarberg offered Kokoity to negotiate a direct exchange of hostages and captives. Eduard Kokoity did not like this idea and said: “This method, used by you and Georgian side is not a civilized one and was common in the medieval centuries. We are modern and civilized people. When we speak about people and particularly about children, it is not necessary to start a PR Campaign. If European structures are concerned about these Georgian children, I am concerned about the fate of Ossetian children about whom we do not have any information.”
 
During the visit Thomas Hammarberg led negotiations with the plenipotentiary ambassador of Russia to South Ossetia.
 
Late at night of November 30 Kokoity met Hammarberg once more. After that, the European Commissionaire reported to the local media that every meeting was fruitful for him. “Every meeting was fruitful for me. After I spoke with family members and relatives of missing ethnic Ossetians, I got a better understanding of the situation.”
 
Hammarberg offered Kokoity two ways out of the deadlock. The first one was about a certain Archvadze, who was in Tskhinvali prison and Kokoity should release him though his detention has nothing to do with the detention of the children from Tirdznisi. The second suggestion was to release the two youngest children among 4 detainees as a sign of good will from Tskhinvali authority. Eduard Kokoity apparently, liked only the second suggestion and said the trial of the children did not yet took place and that it would be earmarked for December 2.
 
 Pavle Tekhov: “They held the trial in 5 minutes; I had no interpreter”
 
Thomas Hammarberg went back to Tbilisi on condition that he would visit Tskhinvali District again and attend the trial on December 2.
 
Indeed, Thomas Hammarberg went to the administrative border with five Ossetian citizens in the morning, on December 2. At 9:00 am, parents and relatives of Tirdznisi village children were standing in front of the parents and children of citizens of Tskhinvali near the block-post. The people who were on the territory of Tskhinvali saw that Pavle and Iakob Tekhovs, Vadim Eloev, Ibragim Laliev and Lavrenti Kaziev, who were missing several months ago, were coming. As soon as, they crossed the border, they heard the voice of journalist:”Hello Ibrahim!!!” According to the Ossetian radio, the meeting of the missing children and their parents was too exciting. “Everyone was crying”, states Ossetian Radio.
 
Paata Zakareishivli, the expert of conflicts states in the interview with Ossetian press, that the Georgian side detained these 5 men several months ago. But Shota Utiashvili, the representative of the ministry of Internal Affairs stated constantly that Georgian side did not detain any Ossetian man.
“These people were released officially on August 4.Though the MIA did not take them to the Ossetian side; on the contrary they locked them in one of house. Their action was illegal too and accordingly the attention of Ossetian side is natural,” stated Paata Zakareishvili.
 
Pavle Tekhov remembers when and how the Georgian law enforcement officers detained him:”They arrested me near the village of Disev. I was accused of storing bombs. They held the trial in 5 minutes”, said Pavle Tekhov.
 
The Promise of Thomas Hammarberg
 
The Ossetians had scheduled the trial of the juveniles, who were kidnapped from the village of Tirdznisi on December 2 at 8:00 am. The process started at 13:00 pm and continued to 16:00 pm. Thomas Hammarberg returned only with two juveniles in Tbilisi. The Ossetian side promised him that they would release the other two boys within ten days.
 
Tskhinvali News Committee pays more attention to another three Ossetians juveniles. Thomas Hammarberg met their parents. Ossetian young men disappeared on October 13, 2008.These are: 17-year-old Alan Khachirov; 20-year-old Alan Khugaev and 26-year-old Soltan Piliev. Georgian side detained them on the way of Khelchua on October 13, 2008- states Ossetian Media. Furthermore, the relatives of this people gave some video materials to Thomas Hammarberg, which shows that people stopped and started to interrogate them.
 
Thomas Hammarberg said to the relatives of missing people, that he would introduce them to the chief prosecutor of Gori, of course, with the help of International Observers. Though, they do not rely on commissionaires of the council of Europe: “We met them. We gave them all kinds of information, but in vain”.
 
Naira Pilieva, the mother of Alan Khachirov stated that she was informed that her son was in Gori, but she did not name the source to protect her security. Thomas Hammarberg promised that if the people who were missing last year, are dead, he would help their families to look for the deceased and transfer them.