South Ossetian Leader Criticizes Russian Construction Firms

TBILISI -- Eduard Kokoity, the president of the breakaway Georgian republic of South Ossetia, today criticized Russian construction companies engaged in building new homes in the capital, Tskhinvali, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reports.

Kokoity said those construction companies completed less than 100 of the 400 new homes that were to be completed by the December 10 deadline that was agreed on. He added that the quality of construction was poor.

Kokoity ordered the builders to work virtually nonstop in order to finish the rest of the 400 new houses planned by the project by February 10. He said he will suspend payment to the companies if they fail to do so.

Up to 3,000 homes in South Ossetia were destroyed during the August 2008 war between Georgia and Russia.