Temur Iakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, said he met with Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, in Tskhinvali on August 7.

“[The South Ossetian] separatists have again refused to hold a meeting; negotiations is the only way out of this situation. Kulakhmetov also pointed out that there is no alternative to negotiations. We are still trying to arrange a meeting [with the South Ossetian side] if not for today at least for tomorrow,” Iakobashvili told journalists.

He said that the situation in Tskhinvali was “very grave.” “No people are seen on the streets,” Iakobashvili added.