Interviews

In Europe, the Days of Ossetian Culture, which are held for several years by the international non-profit association Renaissance-Sandidzan (Belgium) created by a native of South Ossetia, Radion Pukhaev, have come to an end. On the Days of Culture - 2019 and on the intercultural dialogue between Ossetia and Europe, is his exclusive interview with the news agency “Res”.

- How many people attended the events of the Days of Ossetia in Europe?

The first Deputy head of the administration of the President of South Ossetia, Alan Dzhussoev, in an interview with the Res news agency, gave an assessment of the anti-Russian campaign in the Georgian media and spoke in general about his vision of the situation in this country.

First of all, how do you assess the very fact of such riots and the synchronous anti-Russian campaign in the Georgian media?

Last week took place a press tour of foreign journalists to South Ossetia. As part of the media group for the first time our country was visited by Syrian journalists. Syria recognized South Ossetia, there are prospects for the development of bilateral relations, including in the information sphere. Res agency continues the cycle of interviews with Syrian colleagues. The correspondent of Syrian television Saam Al Mardinim Feras for the first time in South Ossetia, and shared his impressions.

South Ossetia has reached its goal, having passed through great trials, - SANA agency correspondent

This week there was a press tour to South Ossetia for the media from Syria and Iran. IA '' Res '' has published an interview with a member of the press tour, correspondent of the Moscow bureau of the SANA agency Adam Hanna.

- You`ve been in South Ossetia for several days, did your expectations from what you have seen come true?

March 11, the released citizens of the Republic, convicted on trumped-up charges in Georgia arrived in South Ossetia. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia Kazbulat Tskhovrebov told the news agency "Res" about the work on their release for 11 years.

- Four citizens of South Ossetia, after 11 years of imprisonment in Georgia have returned home. What kind of work was carried out during these years, what measures taken to release them?

- Indeed, our citizens had to spend difficult 11 years in Georgian prisons. All these years South Ossetia declared the illegality of their detention and imprisonment and demanded their release. South Ossetian representatives constantly raised this issue in the format of the Joint Control Commission, as well as at other platforms. However, due to the unconstructive position of the Georgian side and apparent unwillingness to take responsibility for the decision, even not political, but purely humanitarian questions, there was not any serious progress to resolve the issue. In this regard, I want to recall with gratitude the efforts of representatives of the civil society of South Ossetia, first of all, Lyra Kozaeva, who also addressed this issue, and largely achieved better results than the official structures of the Republic. In particular, they assisted in organization of meetings with relatives and officials, in transferring of requests to the Georgian state authorities.

- On the international platforms - the Geneva discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia and meetings in the format of mechanisms to prevent and respond to incidents, attended by representatives of South Ossetia, it was repeatedly raised the question of the illegally condemned South Ossetian citizens, serving sentences in Georgian prisons. How this work influenced on the course of events?

- The South Ossetian delegation at the Geneva discussions regularly raised the issue of prisoners. It is important to raise such questions at such international platforms; it stresses the importance and urgency of their solution for the Republic of South Ossetia. It was in Geneva in backroom talks, when for the first time we saw the prospect of solving this issue, and then practically implemented. In this regard, I would also like to thank all colleagues in the Geneva discussions and appreciation for the work the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Republic of Abkhazia Oleg Botsiev.

- You yourself took part directly in the process of exchange of South Ossetian citizens in Abkhazia that was a truly historic event. What were your feelings at that moment?

- It is an unforgettable experience. When I opened the door of the minibus with our guys from Georgia, saying that they are free, they did not say a word and did not move because they did not believe in what was happening. I had to once again repeat it, but my heart at that moment was bleeding. And it is an indescribable state, when you are in the mother's arms, thanking "for the salvation of her son." These feelings will be with me forever.

- Most of the work to release the illegally convicted citizens of South Ossetia in Georgia has been done - our citizens have returned home. What support will be provided for rehabilitation of these citizens?

- From the Fund of the President South Ossetia and the Fund of the Government of South Ossetia are allocated funds for the initial needs of the liberated citizens. The guys are with their relatives. I think that in the native environment rehabilitation will take place as quickly as possible. If they need support or participation of the President or the Government in solving specific problems, I'm sure they can count on it.

- How many prisoners - citizens of South Ossetia are in Georgian prisons?

- At the time of the exchange we did not have any information about the other citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia imprisoned in Georgia. But now we have the information that may be the list is incomplete. This information should be checked. To date we have not received any information both from the relatives or the official authorities of Georgia. Several our citizens are listed as missing, but it is another area of work.

May 29 in the Republic of South Ossetia is celebrated the 23th anniversary of the Act of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia.

Vadim Gabaraev, the first convocation deputy of the Parliament of South Ossetia:

Ossetians have always been independent genetically. When making their first steps, when started talking about independence, the people of South Ossetia took heart. Everyone was striving for freedom.
There were also people who did not want the proclamation of the independence, dissuaded us, saying that the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia was the first step to war. But the only will of the people was independence! People believed and knew it was the only way to freedom.
It is impossible to describe the joy that reigned on the Theater Square May 29, 1992, when we announced the adoption of the Act of Independence of South Ossetia.
It was a great joy for the entire nation. You should have seen the eyes of people, full of joy and steadfastness in their striving for freedom.
The road to freedom was long and difficult, but Ossetians are a great nation, and we have won independence.

Vadim Tskhovrebov, director of the South Ossetian enterprise of bakery products:

The Act of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia is a historical document, justice, which sooner or later would have to prevail.
The adoption of the Act of Independence of South Ossetia will remain forever in the history of the Ossetian people.
We gained independence, though it was a long road to it. I remember well how we were struggling for independence. We must remember, first of all, those people, both the living and the dead, thanks to whom we won independence; we must honor and respect our independence.
In connection with the celebration of this wonderful day, I wish the people of South Ossetia peaceful sky, happiness, health and prosperity.

Amiran Diaconov, MP of South Ossetia:

The adoption of the Act of Independence of South Ossetia 29 May 1992 is the basic document - the foundation of the independence of our state.
I would like to congratulate the people of South Ossetia on this momentous day, in particular, the members of the first convocation, which laid the basis for the legal framework of our state, thanks to their efforts was adopted the Act of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia. In this regard, I wish the current Parliament to follow the professionalism, tolerance and patriotism of those people, thanks to whom we are living in the independent state.

This year "The Days of Ossetian culture in Europe" will be held in five countries. The main purpose of this traditional event is to promote Ossetian culture in Europe and the networking of the Ossetian creative intelligentsia with the European colleagues.
The head of the International non-profit Association «Renaissance Sandidzan» Radion Pukhaev has given a detailed account of this event in an interview with news agency "Res"

Russian Presidential Aide Vladislav Surkov has recently arrived in South Ossetia on a working visit. He became acquainted with the implementation of the Investment Program to promote socio-economic development of South Ossetia in 2014, met with the President of the Republic, heads of the ministries and agencies, representatives of the construction companies. On the outcome of his visit Surkov told in an interview with the Republican and Russian media representatives.

After the Georgian aggression in August 2008, the National Bank of South Ossetia established special account to assist the citizens of the Republic affected by the fighting. Chairman of the Supervisory Board under the President of South Ossetia for targeted expenditure of the funds of the special account, State Councilor to the President Rodion Siukaev in an interview with the news agency "Res" has told about how the funds of the special account are used and what category of citizens of the Republic is to have been rendered financial assistance

Interview of the Russian State Duma deputy, member of the party "Fair Russia", Deputy Chairman of the Committee on the CIS Affairs, Eurasian integration, South Ossetia and Abkhazia Tatiana Moskalkova.