TBILISI. May 20 (Interfax) - The Georgian government has described as a "flagrant" violation of the ceasefire agreement the incident in the Sachkhere district, where five local residents came under fire.
"This incident is a cruel crime which caused high tensions in the territory adjacent to the occupied regions. Like illegal detentions it indicates that Russia and its puppet regimes continue pursuing an aggressive policy, which aims to upset stability," the Georgian government said in a statement on Thursday.
"Such actions are a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement," it said.
The Georgian government urged Russia to curb such aggressive incidents immediately, commit itself not to use force against Georgia and allow European experts to start monitoring the observance of the ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, the Georgian Interior Ministry confirmed on Thursday that four residents of the Sachkhere district, detained on Wednesday, have been freed.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry earlier on Wednesday had blamed Russia for the incident outside the Georgian village of Chalvani.
The South Ossetian state security committee KGB in turn told Interfax that South Ossetian border guards fired shots during the detention of Georgian citizens who had illegally crossed into South Ossetia.
"Fire was opened at border guards in an attempt to free the detainees. The assailants were scattered by return fire and escaped to Georgia," the South Ossetian KGB said.