Heads of security, defence and law enforcement agencies of South Ossetia have made today a working trip to the village of Artsev in Tskhinval district of the Republic. In front of the building of the rural administration, where is also located the Interior Department, gathered a few dozen people to ask their questions and to talk about their problems.
Questions that addressed the residents of the village hardly came within the competence of the law enforcement agencies. However, they listened carefully to everyone writing down everything told by the residents.
Attorney General Merab Chigoev said that security forces were ready to listen to any concern of residents who were not always able to go to Tskhinval to solve them.
"We can answer any question and we will bring them to the leadership and the relevant agencies," - said Chigoev.
Most of the problems faced by the villagers in everyday life are related to water supply, electricity irregularities, transportation.
A villager Dianoz Driaev asked to draw the attention of the leadership to address precisely these social issues which had forced many villagers to leave their homes in search of a better life. As it turned out, the problem of regular transport links had already been resolved. The villagers have welcomed this news, noting that the life in the village, though not by much, but, nevertheless, will be easier and they will be able to buy essential commodities in the capital.
There is only one store in the whole village, and the prices there, by local standards, are prohibitive. This is primarily due to the fact that the village is located at a distance from Tskhinval, from which the shop owners deliver the goods. One will spend more than an hour along the dirt road to reach the village, which in rainy weather becomes almost impassable.
Another pressing social problem is the issue of water supply; only 40% of the population is supplied with water. Local residents were assured that this issue was also under consideration and by the next year the villagers would be able to irrigate their land and use drinking water.
The issues related to the process of education in the Artsev high school were also discussed. The head of studies Karina Goyaeva said that the school building had been recently renovated, but there were problems with material and technical support.
Education at the school, where before the war in 2008 were located two schools - Russian and Georgian, – is conducted in Russian and Ossetian languages. In total, there are 21 pupils and 11 teachers along with the principal.
But in spite of all the difficulties, education in the village is at the proper level. There is not also a kindergarten in Artsev. The issue of health care of the villagers, the lack of a permanent working doctor and the pharmacy were also discussed.
"Doctors arrive here sometimes, there are only two nurses in the village, but they provide only minimal care, "- said Liana Kisieva.
In case of emergency situation the villagers have to call the ambulances from Tskhinval, which often does not arrive in time. The same situation is with the Emergency Services in the village, there is no fire station, and the firemen from Tskhinval or Leningor are not always able to arrive in time to put out the fire.
Some aid to the villagers is provideв by the Mission of the Red Cross, regularly attending the residents. According to the residents, its aid is often selective; more attention is paid to residents of ethnic Georgian villages.
Due to the fact that Artsev is a border village - the nearest Georgian village is at a few hundred meters - the inhabitants often have issues with the state border regime. Relatives of many of them as a result of the war in August 2008 remained in Georgia. After the decision of the Government of South Ossetia made in October, 2012 on the full closure of the state border the villagers could not visit their relatives anymore. Today they appealed to the heads of law enforcement agencies to solve this problem, for example, re-open the crossing point of the state border and allow them to cross it once a month.
A resident Fenya Kazieva asked to assist in returning her daughter home.
"After the war the Georgian school was closed. I could not send my daughter to a Russian school because she was not able to continue her studies after eight years at the Georgian school. And I had to send her to Georgia where lived her elder sister. Now she graduated from high school and I want to return her, "- said Kazieva.
According to the KGB of South Ossetia, this problem can be solved, and Kaziyeva has to file an application to the Border Service of the KGB and the FSS Border Control Agency.
In any case, as noted by security forces, people should get used to the fact that there is a state border between South Ossetia and Georgia, and nobody is allowed to cross it at any time.
The issue of unemployment of the population is also pressing. About 70 people of the villagers who are slightly more than four hundred people, are engaged in the public sector . They are employees of the Ministry of Defense, Department of the Interior, the rural administration and the school.
Residents of Artsev raised many questions, including those relating to assistance in restoring houses damaged in August 2008, and as a result of the Georgian aggression in the 90s.
The trip of heads of security, defence and law enforcement agencies to Artsev and direct communication with residents revealed a number of urgent social problems to be solved in a short space of time. If the leadership of the Republic finds ways to address these issues, people who left the village earlier, may return to their homes.
