Геноцид

THE GOD HAS HEARD OUR PRAYERS
The night from 7–8 August 2008 after Saakashvili has declared cease-re and the people calmed down a little, many went to bed. No one could expect that Saakashvili has deceitfully lied to them (although it was not the rst time).
At 11.50 THE ATROCITIES OF WAR PERFORMED BY THE GEORGIAN TROOPS BEGAN. We descended into the cellar, to shelter from the shooting attack. There was no electricity there, no water, and no food. Though, we didn’t think much of hunger – if only we could escape death, we thought. We had no idea of what happened in the city, with our dear – it was impossible even to peep out.

Maldzigova Irina Vazhaevna, 1984 year of birth, an inhabitant of Tskhinval:

That summer was very hot and dry. My son, Alimchik, was not two months yet. He was born on June, 19, he was very capricious child. Probably he felt the tight situation which reigned not only in each house, but also all over the town, as if hovering in the air. I was nervous, because my husband all time disappeared at his work, as well as all the other men, defending our Republic.

Gabueva Eteri Ilyinichna, 1934 year of birth, an inhabitant of Tskhinval.

In August, 2008, because of constant bombardment of Tskhinval from Georgia, we had to send our children to Vladikavkaz. I, myself, remained in the town with my daughter and my husband. On the night of August, 8 strong explosions resounded through the town. It was clear that the war had begun. We did not know when the end would come. The blast wave provoked certain rumble in my ears; the debris broke the glasses of the windows. We suffered the horror much worse than during the first war (1992). That night the Georgian planes were bombing the town, they hit our houses whistling. I, an elderly woman, thought that I had suffered all the hard time in my life; however it was only the beginning.

August, 2008 - for ever in our hearts and thoughts!

It’s said, that time is the best doctor and it sorts things out. Do not believe it, time only gives the chance to feel deeper the past, to realize fervently that all what have happened was not a dream. Twenty years in the conditions of wartime - not only a dimension of time, - but no any Ossetian will forget it. The war in 2008… These several days at the beginning of August have touched deeply the destiny of everyone who has remained in South Ossetia, having left persistent wounds and bitterness of irreplaceable losses. To arrange purgatory to the whole nation at the beginning of the 21th century only because they are the Ossetians, as well as any other people who have a right to decide their destiny to be free- it is above understanding of any normal man. But, unfortunately, it has happened, and one cannot forget it. Yes, in summer 2008 the Georgian neo-fascists strained the situation to unimaginable limits around South Ossetia.

Three years have passed after the August war in 2008, however everybody who have been in South Ossetia during this period, will .never forget the endured horror. On the night of August, 8, I was at home, together with my daughter, my husband and my small grandsons. My sons were at their post. I was frightened to death when the bombardment of the town began. We have picked up the children and have gone down into the cellar. I can not recover from the endured nightmare hitherto. Light has been instantly switched off; it was very dark, we could not even dare to light on candles. I hoped that by the morning the bombardment would abate, but it was only a dream…Thoughts about my sons did not give me any rest.

One should not forget those horrible days

In the nineties of the last century as a result of so-called perestroika the scale process of the USSR collapse has begun. The Georgian Republic one of the first has withdrawn from the USSR and has declared itself the independent Republic. After that the former regions have separated from Georgia. Abkhazia has also declared itself the independent Republic. Adzharia nominally was a part of Georgia, but it actually began an independent course of internal and foreign policy. South Ossetia has also withdrawn from the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and proclaimed itself the independent Republic.

Plieva Anfisa Anatoljevna, 1955 date of birth, an inhabitant of Tskhinval

I cannot get over awful explosions in August, 2008 so far. One cannot express this horror by words. How can I express my feelings when I was confident that I would die, that I would not escape? On the night of August, 8 I was at home, together with my daughter and my mother-in-law, my son was at his post. We have jumped up at 12 o'clock in the evening when the blast was resounded, and we ran into the cellar. The refuge was not deserved to be called refuge. Through the windows we could see the Georgian tanks passing along the streets.

Dzhioeva Angela Vadimovna, 1987 d.b. an inhabitant of Tskhinval

On the night of August, 8, 2008 the strong explosion was resounded, I have been already in bed at that moment. Having heard the first roar, I did not pay any attention to it because the Georgians had been periodically firing South Ossetia in the evenings. But the first explosion was followed by the next ones. I jumped out of the bed and ran into my mother’s room. The light was disconnected. We went down into the cellar.

Gabueva Evgenia, 1930 d.b., an inhabitant of Tskhinval

On the night of August, 8, I was sleeping when suddenly the war started. Strong explosion resounded about the midnight. I woke up, without realizing what was occurring. I thought that someone had been blown up, but the following explosions made me realize, that it was war. The Georgians had been repeatedly firing us before, almost every evening; we had even got accustomed to it. But we had not heard such explosions, such bombardment even in the 90th of the past century. I was at home with my daughter. I do not have a cellar and we had to run to our neighbours, but at that time the missile hit the next house, I was thrown off to the wall by the blast wave and miraculously managed to survive. My daughter and I have hardly crawled to the cellar. Each explosion made one`s heart shuddering. Through the window I saw, how the missile hit the house of my neighbor Zakhar Tedeev and the fire caught the house.

Bekoev Roman Levanovich, 1936 d. b. an inhabitant of Tskhinval

I live on Tselinnikov Street, not far from the crossing of Isak Kharebov and Heroes Streets. In the evening of the seventh of August I was watching the appearance of the Georgian president Saakashvili on TV in which he said that it would be no any provocative actions against South Ossetia on the part of Georgia. That day I have thought that at last the night bombardments of the Republic will stop for some time. So many people have thought that way. That day my son was at his post, near to the Oak grove, many boys have been sent home by their commander, not expecting any more danger.