The leadership of the unrecognized Republic of South Ossetia released on 4 January an expanded version of its list of Georgian officials whose actions or statements it considers criminal. The initial list contained five names, and the expanded one 28. Heading the list is Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, followed by Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and Mikheil Kareli, governor of the region of Shida Kartli that theoretically encompasses South Ossetia. Okruashvili, who is believed to be behind the abortive attack by Georgian forces on South Ossetia in August 2004 and the mortar attack on Tskhinvali in September 2005, was said to have merited the death penalty. On 7 January, South Ossetian Interior Minister Mikhail Mindzaev said all the officials on the list, including Okruashvili and Merabishvili, will be arrested if they attempt to enter South Ossetian territory. (Caucasus Press)