Leonid Tibilov met with South Ossetian citizens released from Georgian prisons
South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov has met with the South Ossetian citizens, who for many years were serving sentence in prisons of Georgia on trumped-up charges. The relatives of the released citizens of South Ossetia have expressed their gratitude to the President, because thanks to the efforts of Leonid Tibilov today the guys have returned home. This fact was emphasized by the relatives and the released guys at a meeting with the President.
The mother of one of the released guys who has returned home after 11 years imprisonment, Lyudmila Usovich has noted that due to the efforts applied by Leonid Tibilov today her son George Zaseev and the other guys have returned home. According to her, she remembers, as the President gave her and other families promise, he was in a permanent solution to this problem since the early days of his presidency.
"I want to express my admiration for your courage, - said Lyudmila Usovich. - You gave us a promise that our sons would be released, and you have kept it. During your presidency, we were feeling your constant support. This is a great gift for all of us. You have given us new life. This would not have been without your efforts. I will remember it all my life. "
The released guys have also thanked the President.
"It`s too hard for us today to believe in this miracle. All these years we have been with our people. Thanks to you, Mr. President, we can now confidently start living " - expressed their gratitude to the President the released citizens.
The parents also addressed the words of gratitude to the President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba.
Tibilov congratulated the citizens released from Georgian prisons to return to their native land.
"Since then, as you were captured by our southern neighbors, the aggressors, we together with your loved ones were doing everything to meet you as soon as possible, - the president said. -
You spent so many years in prisons of Georgia, serving a sentence on trumped-up charges. And, finally, you have returned to your native land, you love so much. I want to express my gratitude to all those who contributed to your release, especially your loved ones, who not for a minute forgot about you all these years. "
According to the President, the question to release the South Ossetian citizens from Georgian prisons have repeatedly been raised at the Geneva discussions.
"Several times I myself have met with co-chairs of the Geneva discussions to ensure that the question of releasing our citizens convicted on trumped-up charges, to be raised in the framework of the existing international format, - the president said. - Special thanks I want to express to the President of Abkhazia - Raul Khajimba. In September 2015, when he was in South Ossetia on the occasion of celebration the 25th anniversary of the Republic, I discussed with him the issues relating to our citizens in Georgian prisons. "
Leonid Tibilov has also noted that for the needs of the released South Ossetian citizens from the presidential fund will be allocated funds in the amount of 200 thousand rubles.
The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister of South Ossetia Domenty Kulumbegov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Republic for the post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev, South Ossetian Presidential Adviser David Sanakoev, Presidential Commissioner for Human Rights Inal Tasoev.
Georgy Zasseev, Joseph Kochiev, Georgy Valiev and Boris Turashvili were sentenced to life imprisonment in Georgia on trumped-up charges.
March 11, they were met by hundreds of residents of Tskhinval.