TSKHINVALI. Jan 22 (Interfax) - South Ossetia still lacks Russian natural gas transited via Georgian territory, Deputy South Ossetian Foreign Minister Alan Pliyev told Interfax.

"South Ossetia is still failing to receive Russian gas through Georgian territory," Pliyev said.

"Gas supply was cut with the start of Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia on August 8, 2008; however, the reason is the practical decision of Georgian authorities to stop gas deliveries to South Ossetia rather than technical damage to the pipeline, as the Georgian side claims," Pliyev said.

"No direct shell hits were registered along the whole gas pipeline, of which OSCE representatives led by Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Charalampos Christopoulos, were able confirm that the pressure in the pipes is normal. And this was confirmed by system tests," he said.

"Despite the fact that the Georgian side expressed readiness to transit Russian natural gas to South Ossetia, they have yet to make real steps in this direction," Pliyev said.

"It is the end of January now, people are still in a serious situation after the August war and the gas issue has yet to be resolved. We, on our side, are ready to receive natural gas in the republic," he said.