South Ossetia is celebrating one of the most significant dates in modern history – the bringing of Mixed Peacekeeping Forces into the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.
The event began with the laying of wreaths and flowers at the Memorial Cross next to the burned-out building that housed the barracks of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in 2008. Flowers and wreaths were laid at the monument to the Hero of Russia, Major Denis Vetchinov, killed in South Ossetia in the battle to repel the August aggression, as well as at the monument to the fallen peacekeepers in the territory of the FSB Border Control Agency of the Russian Federation in South Ossetia.
The ceremony of laying flowers and wreaths was attended by President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov, Speaker of the Parliament Anatoly Bibilov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to South Ossetia Elbrus Kargiev, members of the government, the leadership and the military personnel of the base, the former soldiers, participants in the events of 08.08.08, representatives of scientific intelligentsia and the public.
23 years ago, July 14, 1992 the peacekeeping forces entered into the territory of South Ossetia.
Then thousands of civilians had already become the victims of three years of Georgian aggression against South Ossetia, more than a hundred Ossetian villages were burned, more than 100 thousand Ossetians were expelled from their homes.
Peacekeepers, who managed to maintain peace for 16 years in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict before August 2008, were among the first attacked by Georgian troops invaded South Ossetia.
To rescue its peacekeepers and aid the people of South Ossetia, Russia conducted a military operation to force Georgia to peace.
August 26, 2008, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia, and the mission of the Mixed Peacekeeping Forces was completed.
The peacekeepers Mission was continued by Russian servicemen and border guards.
In accordance with the Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, signed September 17, 2008 and the Agreement on joint efforts to protect the state border, April 30, 2009 in South Ossetia was formed the 4th Russian military base and the FSB Border Control Agency of the Russian Federation in South Ossetia.
