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President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov and President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania, who arrived in South Ossetia on an official visit, visited the Leningor district on Sunday.

According to the press service of the head of state, the heads of the two friendly states, together with members of the Abkhaz delegation, visited the Armaz Church of St. George (684) and the State Museum of History and Local Lore. The guests were given a tour of the palace complex, told about the life of the Ksani Eristavs, as well as the about history of the construction of the castle.

The wife of a Russian officer, Hero of Russia Denis Vetchinov, perished in South Ossetia during the war in August 2008, came to the Republic on another anniversary of the war to visit the place of his death on the invitation of President Anatoly Bibilov.

A commemorative action - a prayer service dedicated to the thirteenth anniversary of the beginning of Georgia's armed aggression against the Republic of South Ossetia - was held in Italy under the auspices of the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry.

Residents of South Ossetia are mentally transported back 13 years, recalling the events of August 2008, President of the Republic Anatoly Bibilov told reporters on Sunday during a commemorative action.

“Everyone remembers where he was in those August days, when the shelling was carried out, how they feared for the lives of their loved ones, how people buried the dead in their gardens ... Today everyone is experiencing mentally that the events of 13 years ago,” he said.

The support that was provided by our brothers is worth a lot - Bibilov

The Georgian invasion of South Ossetia in August 2008 was perceived by Abkhazia as a direct threat, the armed forces of the Republic were put on high alert, President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania told reporters on Sunday.

“By that time, there was already an interstate agreement with South Ossetia on the provision of military assistance. And these events in Abkhazia were perceived as direct aggression, - said Bzhania. "Allied relations were put to the test and have been withstood with honor."

The laying of wreaths at the memorial complex to the Defenders of Ossetia - Russian and South Ossetian soldiers took place on Sunday morning in Tskhinval. These days the Republic is commemorating the 13th anniversary of Georgia's attack on South Ossetia.

Today's commemorative action was held "without words", presidents of South Ossetia and Abkhazia Anatoly Bibilov and Aslan Bzhania, the Russian Ambassador to the Republic Marat Kulakhmetov, representatives of the government and the public, guests and residents of the city came to support it.

The hour of memory and sorrow "Just Not to Forget ..." is taking place on Saturday evening at the Gergiev Stairs, where in August 2008 the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra conducted a requiem concert under the direction of Valery Gergiev on the ruins of the country's parliament building. Since then, a memorial event is held here annually.

Trade turnover for the first half of 2021 between South Ossetia and Abkhazia has doubled compared to the entire period of 2020, President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania said at the press conference in Tskhinval.

“If we maintain such rates, then by the end of the year the trade turnover will quadruple,” he said.

President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov, in turn, has noted that the increase in trade between the two countries directly depends on the implementation of the plans that were discussed with the leader of Abkhazia.

Presidents of South Ossetia and Abkhazia Anatoly Bibilov and Aslan Bzhania at the joint press conference in Tskhinval commented on the statement of a number of Western countries, which demanded that Russia "immediately withdraw its armed and security forces, as well as cancel the recognition of the independence" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

According to Bzhania, such calls have nothing to do with the actual situation, "they are aimed not at solving the problem, but exacerbating it."

The scenario of a military solution to the issue of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has not left the political agenda of NATO and Georgia, President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania told reporters in Tskhival, commenting on the exercises conducted in neighboring Georgia with the participation of these countries.

“We will also draw appropriate conclusions. I would like everything to be in a peaceful way, but here they do not give a choice.