At the Theater Square of the South Ossetian capital today has taken place a military parade dedicated to the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the Republic. In front of the tribune with the leaders of South Ossetia and the visitors lined the stuff of the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior, Border Guard Agency, cadets and the servicemen of the fourth Russian military base and the Russian border guards.
The parade commander, Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant -General Ibrahim Gasseev and Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Valery Yakhnovets, who was taking the parade, toured the parade squads, congratulating the troops on the Republic Day.
Before the parade the RSO President Leonid Tibilov addressed the serviceman and all those gathered at the square;he has noted that exactly 22 years ago, the Council of People's Deputies session in South Ossetia passed a truly momentous, bold, consistent with the fundamental rules of the international law, political-legal act - proclaimed a sovereign republic.
"This act expressed the will of our people, who had chosen the road to freedom and independence," - said the head of state.
The president stressed, that the road to freedom had been long and difficult.
"But over the years in the difficult conditions we were able to strengthen our statehood significantly. And we did it by extreme stress of moral and physical strength, at the cost of thousands of lives and health of our people, the hardest struggle against economic ruin and the forced relocation to the north of a large number of civilians from their historic homeland "- reminded Tibilov.
Those gathered at the square observed a minute's silence in memory of all those who had died for the freedom and independence of South Ossetia.
The servicemen, residents and the visitors of the Republic were congratulated by the President of the Republic of Nauru Sprent Jared Dabvido. On behalf of his people he congratulated South Ossetia on the Republic Day.
"I hope that my visit here will give you the confidence that the international community is following the peace processes in a free and independent Republic of South Ossetia. After the completion of my visit to South Ossetia, I `ll leave for New York, where I am going to share my impressions and to represent the interests of South Ossetia at the UN "- said Dabvido. He expressed confidence that South Ossetia, with the help of its allies would reach prosperity and success in the international arena.
The ceremonial march was opened by the banner group of the military guard of honor of South Ossetia. After the military parade marched, it was followed by the combat equipment of the Defense Ministry of South Ossetia – tanks T-72, self-propelled and towed artillery, anti-aircraft artillery systems, MLRS "Grad", fighting vehicles BMP-2, armored personnel carriers BTR-80.
