Vowing to defend “compatriots” in South Ossetia, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has promised to punish those responsible for any deaths.

In a televised statement he said: “Under the Constitution and the Federal law I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are.The logic of the steps we take is dictated by these circumstances. We will not allow deaths to go unpunished. Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment.”

The warning come as Medvedev maintained Russia was, and will remain, a guarantor of security for the Caucasus’ people.

He has been holding top-level security meetings in what is the first crisis to confront the new Russian president since he took over from Vladimir Putin in May.

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