As a result of the five-day war between Georgia and South Ossetia, which began on the night of August 8, 2008, were killed hundreds of civilians, thousands of people were injured. An active part in repelling the Georgian aggression in August 2008, took a special police unit (OMON). During the fighting near the village of Tbet were killed several members of the riot police. One of them was very young, 19 year-old Soslan Maldzigov from the motorized company.
War of August 2008 claimed hundreds of innocent lives, cutting them off at the very beginning. Hundreds crashed fates, orphaned, destitute, widows who have lost the meaning of life because of the political views of the Georgian authorities. These are the results of the five-day war in August 2008.
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 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.
Fatima Kisieva, born in 1981, an inhabitant of Tskhinval:
We live in the nine-storey building in Roza Kochisova Street, on the western suburb of Tskhinval. The building is located directly under the Oak grove, - that is the height from where the Georgian tanks where shooting the town. In the evening of August, 7 the heavy bombardment started, and we were compelled to run downwards as it was very dangerous to stay in our flat on the ninth floor. By that time all our neighbours had already gathered on the ground floor, we were frightened so much, but at the same time we hoped that the fire would stop soon. To our horror the bombardment was becoming stronger, and we had to go down into the cellar. In this damp, cold cellar we spent two days I can`t think about till now without shuddering. Kiddies, among whom there were also babies, were crying uninterruptedly.
Rita Kozaeva, born in 1972, an inhabitant of Tskhinval
I`ll never forget the war in August, 2008. In the night of August, 8, when the massed bombardment of all Republic launched, I was at home with my mother and children. Having heard the first explosion, we rushed for the children, and at full speed ran into the cellar. The electricity was disconnected, it was very terrible. I was calming my children, as I could. None of us could ever think that such things could occur in the 21st century. In the evening before, we had heard the speech of the Georgian president on TV; he said that from that day forward there would be peace between the Georgian and the Ossetian people. Nevertheless, he once again proved that his words cost nothing; the Georgian military men attacked the sleeping Tskhinval at night. The missiles were falling one after another, all the sky was in flame, at each explosion we shuddered and did not know what would happen in a minute. All of us hoped that by the morning the bombardment would stop, but the things became worse. In the morning the Georgian monsters entered the town, crushing everything on their way, sparing nobody.
Bagaeva Elvira Ushangovna, born in 1969, an inhabitant of Tskhinval
Three years have passed after the tragic August events, but time has not cured the war scars remained in our souls forever, despite the restoration works being carried out dynamically in our town. One cannot forget the terrifying ordeals our people have undergone. On August, 8, 2008, when the Georgians attacked the sleeping people of South Ossetia, I was at home with my children. Having heard the explosions, I thought that the bombardment would stop in some hours, that it was the next provocation of Georgia. But in some minutes I completely changed my opinion- I realized that the cruel war had begun. I went down into the cellar with my children. We were so frightened that we could not even speak.
Khozieva Varya Vasiljevna born in1966, an inhabitant of Tskhinval
I live at International Street in Tskhinval. That awful night, from seventh to eighth of August, I was at home. Because of tension reigned in the town I had earlier sent my children to North Ossetia. Early in the morning my husband went to his work. I was alone when the explosions were resounded at night.