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It has been almost two years that the residents of Leningor district of South Ossetia are not getting Russian gas transited through Georgia. This issues has been discussed at the last round of Geneva talks on security in the Caucasus. As Boris Chochiev, the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement, reported to RES Agency, there were no real steps taken by anyone, including international organizations, to settle this humanitarian problem.

Today, the South Ossetian President's Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev met with the ICRC Mission representative Gilles Hansoul. As Boris Cchochiev reported to Res Agency, the discussion focused on the issues related to the meeting in Geneva on missing citizens of South Ossetia between representatives of South Ossetia and the ICRC. "The meeting in Geneva is held upon the initiative of the ICRC. Today we agreed on the date for this meeting in Geneva, since we expect the CoE Commissioner Tomas Hammarberg to arrive in South Ossetia on the same dates in February", said Chochiev.

The Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev and Head of Protection Department of the ICRC mission in South Ossetia Gilles Hansoul discussed the results of the meeting in the ICRC Headquarters in Geneva on 27 January 2010, which took place between the SO Human Rights Commissioner David Sanakoev, Deputy Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Merab Chigoev and Deputy Head of Operations OP_East Djordje Drndanski.

Boris Chochiev, the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement, reported to media on the results of the 9th round of Geneva talks held on 28 January. According to him, Geneva participants had discussed issues, which were already on the agenda: "This is the question on non-use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia in accordance with Sarkozy-Medvedev agreements. Another important topic was the fate of missing South Ossetian citizens. We also discussed the resumption of natural gas to Leningor district tackled in the second working group dealing with humanitarian issues, including that of refugee return. The resumption of Incident Prevention Mechanism (IPRM) meetings was also touched upon. We have refused to participate in the IPRM before the Georgian authorities provide us with information on our abducted citizens".

The Ministry of Interior of the Republic of South Ossetia filed a criminal case against Malkhaz Akhvlediani, a Georgian citizen detained for illegal border-crossing, reported the Press-Service of the RSO MoI. "Malkhaz Akhvlediani was detained 31 January in southern outskirts of Tskhinval", reads the report.
"He is incriminated in illegal crossing of the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia. Presently, law enforcement bodies are investigating the case", reported the Press-Service.

The president of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity had an inspection visit to construction sites in Tskhinval. Deputy Prime-Minister Alexander Zelig, representatives of "Stroytechcontrol" and State Committee for Rehabilitation Projects accompanied him during his visit.

The Georgian authorities keep trying to destabilize the situation at the Georgian-Ossetian boundary line, including organization of open provocations, reported a source in the RSO law enforcement bodies.
According to this source, special services of RSO received information about the intentions of the Georgian side to attempt a delivery of unauthorized trucks with humanitarian aid.

"Neither the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) of RSO nor district administrations had received any official notifications or requests from the Georgian side or international organizations in relation to any planned actions or delivery of humanitarian aid to the territory of South Ossetia", stated Alan Pliev, Deputy MFA.
According to him, the intentions of Georgia to attach political implications speak for the fact that the needs of the local population hardly cause any interest among Georgian authorities. "It is more important for them to fuel tensions between the sides, moreover, there are consultations ongoing in Geneva, where along with security issues, the problems of interaction are discussed", said Pliev.

The President of the Republic of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity signed a decree on dismissal of Nigzar Gabaraev from the post of Minister of Health and Social Welfare of RSO. Eduard Kokoity issued a decree on appointing Nigzar Gabaraev as a State Advisor to the President of South Ossetia for Social Issues.

The South Ossetian Delegation to the 9th round of Geneva Talks is not going to focus on the discussions; it will address the position of the Co-Chairs in relation to the expected duration of these talks", stated Boris Chochiev, the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement in a phone conversation from Geneva.
"We see no results of these discussions, both in security issues, and humanitarian sphere. Therefore, we'll have different approach to the conversation", underlined the Special Representative.