MOSCOW, August 18 (RIA Novosti) - A senior Russian cabinet minister accused Georgia's leadership and Orthodox Church on Monday of preventing Russian peacekeepers from delivering aid to Georgian regions caught up in last week's conflict.
Emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu said: "Our work has unfortunately been frustrated by Georgian authorities, including the church."
He said 40 metric tons of humanitarian aid had been sent to Georgian towns and villages, including Gori, after the conflict between Russia and Georgia over breakaway South Ossetia. The Georgian Orthodox Church had previously mediated in aid deliveries.
Of the food aid sent to Georgia, Russian peacekeepers have only managed to deliver 4 tons to those in need of it, Shoigu said.
Georgia launched a major ground and air offensive to regain control of South Ossetia on August 8, prompting Russia to send tanks and troops to the region, and later into Georgia proper.
