According to Chochiev, such statements are nothing but attempts to apply political pressure against South Ossetia by Georgian President Saakashvili, who plans to return South Ossetia and Abkhazia (two self-proclaimed autonomies in Georgia) back to Georgia.
Speaking about the motives of such statements, Chochiev said, "By accusing Russia and South Ossetia, the Georgian side apparently wants to either cover-up or justify the U.S. presence in Georgia."
"In addition, Georgian authorities are attempting to cover up their actions in the Pankisi Gorge because terrorists that currently operate in Chechnya came from Georgian territory," the South Ossetian minister said.
Earlier, Georgian Interior Minister Vano Marabishvili said a "group of saboteurs" that conducted a terrorist act in Gori on February 1, 2005 and committed a series of other crimes was formed by a Russian security service operative.
In turn, Russian foreign ministry officials called this statement an insinuation.
A powerful explosive device detonated near the regional police headquarters in the town of Gori on February 1, 2005. According to explosives experts, up to 80 kilograms of explosives were loaded in a car parked near the building. The blast killed three police officers and wounded 23 police officers and civilians.
