Russia demands release of 2 peacekeepers

3 Sep, 2007 10:16 / Updated 17 years ago

The Foreign Ministry has called for the release two Russian peacekeepers detained by Georgian officials last Wednesday. The servicemen were arrested in the Georgia-Ossetian conflict zone, accused of abduction.

Later they were remanded in custody for two months by a Georgian court to await trial. The peacekeepers are accused of kidnapping Georgian citizens and illegally detaining journalists – charges both men deny. The Russian Foreign Ministry says the detentions violate both international law and current conflict settlement agreements. To read the story background, please follow the link