Kavkaz Center, Turkey
July 16 2004

175 Ossetians ready to fight for Georgia against Kokoity

Kavkaz Center’s sources in South Ossetia reported that several
hundred units of Russian armored vehicles, 80 self-propelled
artillery units and other ordnance were brought into Tskhinvali.

108 Armenians, 76 Abkhazians and 10 natives of Kabardino-Balkaria
have joined the Tskhinavli army. Hundreds of Russian criminals from
Russian prisons have been brought to Tskhinavli as well. First
payment to the mercenaries was $ 3,500 US dollars. Ossetians are now
moving to Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia on a mass scale. Entire families
are leaving the city.

Artificial obstacles are now being set up in South Ossetia. Military
positions are getting ready. At the same time Georgian central
government in Tbilisi is concealing the real picture of the events.

Over the past few days Ossetian and Russian gang formations have
totally expelled Georgians from three villages. Residents of the rest
four villages will be facing the same lot in the near future. But
Tbilisi has been quiet about it. Some reports say that Georgian
journalists have been banned from bringing up this subject.

At the same time the reports coming from Tskhinvali are showing that
local Ossetians are even more outraged with self-appointed
(pro-Russian) president of South Ossetia Kokoity. Moreover, 175
Ossetians declared they are willing to assist and join the Georgian
army in case war operations get started.