Russia is not planning to reinforce its peacekeepers in Georgia's self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia following recent tensions in the region, the first deputy commander of the ground forces said Tuesday.

Senior political figures in Russia and in the unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have expressed concern in recent days that the escalation of tensions in the South Ossetian conflict zone herald a new attempt by Georgia to restore what they consider its hegemony over that unrecognized republic by force of arms.

"Alternative” South Ossetian leader addresses parliamentarians in Brussels.

Gunfire is reported in the South Ossetian-Georgian conflict zone as the parties in the conflict exchange accusations. The information and press committee of South Ossetia, a self-proclaimed republic in Georgia, said the Georgian side had opened fire from mortars and small arms on a residential area in the north of Tskhinvali, the capital of the region.

Recent actions by Georgia in the conflict zone with the breakaway republic of South Ossetia were provocative and premeditated, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

The pro-Tbilisi alternative leader of Georgia's separatist region of South Ossetia has delivered his first-ever speech at the European Parliament, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reported.