In South Ossetia, at the entrance to the city of Tskhinval on Priss height was held a rally "There is a heart for courage, fortitude and heroism - these are the guys from Tskhinval!"
Representatives of the leadership of the Republic headed by President Anatoly Bibilov, ex-President Leonid Tibilov, members of parliament, representatives of the public, participants in the national liberation struggle for freedom and independence of the Republic, servicemen came to the rally.
Those present laid flowers to the memorial stone established in memory of the feat of Ossetian guys, who 28 years ago had blocked the way of thousands of Georgian nationalists to the city.
Opening the rally, Tarzan Kokoity has noted that on November 23 South Ossetia marks the Day of Courage and Unity of the People.
"28 years ago, the new life of South Ossetia began, it was the beginning of our recent history," Kokoity said.
He has stressed that on November 23, 1989 a small group of unarmed young patriots blocked the way for thousands of armed Georgian nationalists, making a choice for themselves - freedom or death.
"We must know and remember their names," Kokoity added.
The head of the state Anatoly Bibilov has stressed that South Ossetia is proud of the guys who 28 years ago showed courage and fortitude, defending their Motherland.
According to him, the Georgians wanted to break down the Ossetian people in every way, trying to transfer the office work to Georgian, to change the Ossetian names to the Georgian, and so on.
"But the Ossetian people have never lived at smb's command. On November 23, the guys stood shoulder to shoulder and firmly said that it would be so as Ossetian people wanted, "the president said.
Bibilov has noted that as a president and citizen of South Ossetia, he is grateful to those guys, as well as to the entire Ossetian people.
"Thanks to all the Ossetian people, who made their choice and determined the future of South Ossetia," Bibilov continued.
He called on the South Ossetian people for cohesion and unity, noting also the important role of Russia in the formation of the Republic.
On behalf of the guys who stood at the entrance to Tskhinval, spoke Sergey Pliev. He has noted that the guys who were standing as human chain against the enemy understood that they could no longer return to their homes, to their relatives.
"But they knew that it could not be otherwise. They showed real courage, and our youth should know the names of these patriots, ordinary guys from Tskhinval, "he concluded.
Pliev also read his own poem on the national liberation movement.
The representative of the older generation Leonid Kharebov has stressed that the St. George's Church is nearby, which then saved the guys from the tragedy.
"A few guys who were standing face to face with the enemy on November 23 are no longer alive. I want to appeal to those who survived, who stood in the first row, to call their names, because a lot of untruth is said on TV and newspaper publications, "said Kharebov.
He has noted that 28 years ago the guys were standing here not for honors and awards.
"They defended the freedom of their people, fighting for South Ossetia and its independence," concluded Kharebov.
Television anchorman of the state television company "Ir" Sergei Kochiev has compared the courage of the South Ossetian youth with the feat of the older generation who defeated Hitler Germany.
"In the distant 1945, grandfathers and great-grandfathers defended our great homeland from fascism.
28 years ago our guys, here in South Ossetia, once again defended us from fascism, "said Kochiev.
At the end of the rally, the participant of the 1989 events Koba Gagloev presented his book. His next edition of "The Magi of the Source", published in November 2017, contains memories of the tragic events of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
