Геноцид

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 The Georgian Republic one of the first has withdrawn from the USSR and has declared itself the independent Republic.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 South Ossetia has also withdrawn from the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and proclaimed itself the independent Republic.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.

Siukaeva Olga Aleksandrovna, 1969 d.b., an inhabitant of Tskhinval
I live on Heroes Street; this is one of the main streets of Tskhinval where the fights between the Georgian soldiers and the local boys have been taking place during the August war of 2008. On the night of August 8, about 12 o’clock the war has started. Terrible explosions have been resounded; one could not describe all horror which I have suffered that moment. Fear has seized me; I lost my head and instantly fell down on the floor. I was with my elderly mother at home. I have crawled to her room; it was terrible even to lift a head. My poor mother was sitting in the corner, trembling with fear. We have hardly gone down into the cellar, becoming weak in the knees.

Valiev David Vladimirovich, 1948d.b. , an inhabitant Tskhinval
On the night of August 8, 2008 the Georgian aggressors perfidiously attacked South Ossetia. I live in Heroes street in Tskhinval. About 12 o'clock in the night the powerful explosions have been resounded. I went down into the cellar and stayed there till the morning. Through the window of the cellar I saw the Georgian tanks, moving along the street. They were bombing us from planes, too. One of the bombs hit my house, and the staircase and the doors have been completely ruined. I was lucky that at that moment I had been in the cellar. But I have become a witness of the terrible murder.

Alborova Inna Soslanovna, 1982 d.b., an inhabitant of Tskhinval

Recalling the August 2008, fear instinctively creeps over me. Almost three years have passed, but it seems that the war was only yesterday. At night from 7 to 8 of August around the midnight the firing started. The fire was so powerful, that my mother and I came down into the cellar of our house. Each minute the blasts were becoming heavier. There were 15 of us in the cellar, among us there were quite little children, who were crying loudly. In panic none of us took neither food, nor water, nor warm clothes with them.

Soslan Bekoev, 14, “Albion” School

My first day after arrival in Vladikavkaz before the war
I went to Vladikavkaz together with my mum to see my granny. Mum had to return Я приехал the same day, she could leave her work.
Now, I have to stay in Vladikavkaz. I have got a new school and new teachers. My parents do their utmost to have me in a calm situation to continue studies. It was not long ago that I had a house in Tskhinval and a granny there. I cannot help but keep recalling the life destroyed by Georgian extremists. As it were movie shots, I keep in mind the pictures of that horrific August of 2008. My mother, Maya Kharebova, works for an informational agency in Tskhinval, and I could read her journalist reports, newspaper features, brief TV news reported by the informational agency, conversations of journalists; everything was concentrated on those event, which could be also restored through my diary notes.