Chairman of the Georgian Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Security Givi Targamadze dismissed reports by the South Ossetian side that unrecognized capital Tskhinvali was shelled by the Georgian forces in the evening on September 20, calling these reports “provocations and disinformation.”

“We, several parliamentarians along with Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, visited the conflict zone today and after our return we were informed that such information has been disseminated. We have checked and I can say that this is disinformation and a provocation,” MP Targamadze told Imedi television late on September 20, adding that the Georgian forces “have not opened fire at all.”

Breakaway South Ossetia’s Press and Information Committee reported that seven civilians, including a two-year-old child, were injured as a result of mortar shelling of Tskhinvali at 7 am local time. According to this report, mortar fire was opened from the Georgian village of Ergneti in the south of Tskhinvali.