15 October 2008, 15:03
David Sanakoev: Georgian schools are not closed in South Ossetia
Ombudsman for South Ossetia David Sanakoev has refuted the rumours that Georgian schools are closed in the Leninogorsk District of the Republic.
"There're no bans, on the contrary, we try to ensure that the Georgian population receive education in their language, and the administration only promotes it," he said.
After withdrawal of Russian troops from the buffer zone, the authorities of South Ossetia witness return of Georgian population to their villages. According to Mr Sanakoev, within a short period, more than 150 persons returned to the Leninogorsk District and Tskhinvali. Nevertheless, he could not give the number of Georgians who had remained in the Republic.
Along with the Georgian population coming back to their villages, the Ombudsman has marked that now the situation for the Ossetians who cross these villages has become red-hot.
"Part of the road passes across the Georgian territory, and part - across our land. There, Ossetian are detained. After withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the safety zone, namely, after October 8, 9 persons were kidnapped, yesterday, we managed to return two of them. Now, they still keep 7 Ossetians, against whom Georgians have initiated criminal cases for illegal storage of fire-arms," the Ombudsman continued.
David Sanakoev has noted a concentration of plenty of special troops and Georgian internal forces in these regions, armed not only with pistols, but also with automatic fire-arms.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported earlier that Georgian schools are closed in the Akhalgori District renamed into the Leninogorsk one. According to the Georgian party, they will make accent on studying Russian and Ossetian, and Georgian will get only two lessons per week.
Author: Emma Marzoyeva, CK correspondent
