**Ossetians Asked for Help, Georgians Showed Them Destruction**
In 2008, Ossetians asked the international community to help them because they claimed Georgians were destroying their homes. General Mamuka Kurashvili, head of the Peacekeeping Operations Staff, told a parliamentary commission about what happened.
The Ossetians took ambassadors from foreign countries to the conflict zone and showed them burned houses and roofs in Nikosi. They said this was proof that Georgians were attacking them. However, they didn’t let the diplomats see everything, including areas where there was actually no destruction.
**Russian Ambassador Was Turned Away**
Kurashvili remembered that the Russian ambassador had arrived with the convoy of diplomats but was not allowed to enter. Instead, Kurashvili took the ambassadors to Nikosi and showed them the damage.
He also recalled that Eka Zguladze was present during this visit. The diplomats were shown evidence of Georgian attacks, including a cemetery hit by heavy machine gun fire. They took photos and videos of what they saw and sent it to Brussels.
**Reaction from Diplomats Was Not Enough**
However, despite seeing the destruction, the shooting in the conflict zone actually increased after the diplomats left. Two Georgian soldiers were killed, and an infantry vehicle was blown up. Kurashvili said that Russian ambassador Kulakhmetov did not offer condolences or help to save the soldiers.
**Kurashvili’s Concerns**
During the commission hearing, General Kurashvili expressed his concerns about discussing this matter openly. He mentioned that he is under threat from Russia and that Georgia is currently occupied by Russian forces.
Tsulukiani, a member of the commission, asked him if he had removed corpses when he arrived on August 7. Kurashvili replied that they had already been taken away and that it was unclear who decided this.