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Today South Ossetia is marking one of the most tragic dates in the history of the Republic - the day of the Zar tragedy. Exactly 20 years ago a convoy of refugees - South Ossetian civilians, fleeing from the war along the «lifeline», was attacked by the Georgian armed thugs, who shot point-blank the women, children and old people. Ossetia was shocked by unprecedented brutality and cynicism of the Georgian murderers who had not spared even the 12-year-old child, finishing him off by "checking shot". 36 Ossetians became the victims of this tragedy; among them there were two children, ten women and eight old people.

Communication of the Foreign Ministry of South Ossetia in connection with the 20th anniversary of the Zar tragedy

May 20, 2012 commemorative events, dedicated to the victims of the Georgian aggression against the peaceful population of South Ossetia are being held in the Republic of South Ossetia.

The Zar tragedy of May 20, 1992. Witnesses' memories.

Alla Dzhioeva, senior lecturer of the journalism department of the South-Ossetian State University:

No any sensible person will forget the day of the Zar tragedy not only in South Ossetia, but in the whole world, for the shooting of the Ossetian ordinary citizens, including the children, by the Georgian neo-fascists cannot leave anyone indifferent. At that time I was a student of the Faculty of Journalism of the North-Ossetian State University.

The dance groups from South Ossetia took prizes at the XX All-Russiaт festival "The Russian Students Spring", which is being held in Chelyabinsk from May15 - 20. As reported by Head of the Youth Policy Department under the Ministry of Education of the RSO Emilia Gagieva to IA "Res", today, May 19, the final gala concert will take place in Chelyabinsk, where the winners of the festival will be awarded.

Athletes from Tskhinval Soslan Tedeev and Richard Bitiev are taking part in the championship of Russia among young people, which has started today in Kemerovo. This has been said IA "Res" by the coach of the athletes Vitaly Slanov.

The Zartragedy ofMay 20, 1992. Witnesses' memories.

MelitonKazity, Chairman of the Writers' Union ofSouth Ossetia:

I learned about theZartragedy from the townspeople. Everybody wasin panic.That daymany people were drivingon that road and everyone was trying tolearnanythingabout his relatives, friendsand acquaintances.Some time later thetruck approachedthe hospitalwith thedead.

The Zar tragedy of May 20, 1992. Witnesses' memories.

Zoya Bitarti, Candidate of Philology, an associate professor:

The Zar tragedy – is the day, which should be remembered by everybody. It was a mass extermination of the Ossetian people. There were children, old people, and women among the victims.

The Zar tragedy of May 20, 1992. The witnesses' memories.

Zamira Dzhioeva, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of South Ossetia:

The Zar tragedy of 1992 cannot be explained. Defenseless children, women and the old people were killedthat day. Could a normal person do so? And one has got upon the idea that they were monsters, because they had not spared even babies.

Ossetian professional boxer, the European champion under the WBC in the weight class up to 66.6 kg Aslanbek Kozaev fought a bout with the famous Filipino professional boxer, the world champion under WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO version Manny Pacquiao.

The emergence of the next EU report on Georgia was not accidental. After coming to power in Georgia by Mikhail Saakashvili, the country's accession to the European Union ("the return to the European nation’s family") was proclaimed one of the foreign policy priorities. Despite the fact that Brussels has reacted to this idea without much enthusiasm, the EU flags have been raised over many state agencies of Georgia. It reminds many citizens of Tbilisi the foreign occupation.