In South Ossetia, commemorative events began in the morning, timed to coincide with the 13th anniversary of Georgia's attack on sleeping Tskhinval in 2008. The events began with the laying of wreaths at the chapel in the courtyard of the secondary school No. 5 in Tskhinval, where the victims of the Georgian aggression are buried.
The South Ossetian Embassy in Russia has sent a press release to all diplomatic missions accredited in the Russian Federation, as well as to the Georgian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the armed Georgian aggression.
The delegation of Abkhazia led by President Aslan Bzhania has arrived on a three-day official visit to South Ossetia to participate in commemorative events timed to coincide with the 13th anniversary of the events of August 2008.
At the entrance to the Republic, the Abkhaz delegation was met by the head of the South Ossetian Presidential Executive Office Igor Kozaev, Foreign Minister Dmitry Medoev, Emergencies Minister Azamat Chochiev, the head of the Dzau District Administration Andrei Dzhioev and others.
This is not the first time that such calls have been made, having long assumed the character of ritual incantations accompanied by demagogic discourses on territorial integrity, regional security, human rights, refugees and fundamental democratic values, the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary issued on Thursday evening.
Russia today is assisting to ensure security on the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the countries that call it occupation should first return the foreign territories they have occupied. This opinion was expressed by Leonid Kalashnikov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots.
The memory of civilians, militias and peacekeepers perished during the military aggression of Georgia against South Ossetia in 2008 will be honored with a minute of silence, the official representation of South Ossetia in Transnistria has reported.
"The official representation of the Republic of South Ossetia in Transnistria has informed that in memory of those whose lives were taken by the war, on August 8 at 11.00 a memorial service will be held at the chapel of St. George the Victorious at the Glory Memorial of the city of Tiraspol," the statement reads.
The agreement between Russia and South Ossetia on the settlement of issues of dual citizenship opens up enormous opportunities, said South Ossetian President Anatoly Bibilov.
The Western countries' statement is a demonstration of double standards, the Chairman of the South Ossetian Parliament Alan Tadtaev told. the “Res” news agency.
“I have a counter question to the leadership of these countries. Why did they not hear the cry for help from South Ossetia for more than 20 years, from 1989 to 2008, when South Ossetia appealed to the entire international community with a request to protect the population of the Republic from Georgian fascism? This is a manifestation of double standards,” Tadtaev said.
South Ossetian President Anatoly Bibilov responded to Western politicians by advising those claiming the "occupation of South Ossetia" to turn to the reference books.
President of the Republic of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania will pay an official visit to South Ossetia to participate in commemorative events timed to coincide with the 13th anniversary of the events of August 2008, the press service of the President of the Republic reported on Thursday.
"Within the framework of the visit, talks will be held between Presidents Anatoly Bibilov and Aslan Bzhania, as well as an expanded meeting on cooperation between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia," the press service noted.