The action "Candles are crying for people", dedicated to the 12th anniversary of the Georgian armed aggression in August 2008, was held in Tskhinval. At the stand on the main square of the Republic's capital, 548 photographs were placed in memory of the victims of the genocide of the Ossetian people who died from 1989 to 2008.
Thousands of residents of the capital lit candles in front of the Wall of Memory and honored the memory of the victims. Representatives of the Republic's leadership headed by President Anatoly Bibilov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Ossetia Marat Kulakhmetov came to honor the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland.
Residents of Tskhinval still find it hard to remember the events of 12 years ago. As noted by Irina Dzhioeva, the noise of the bombings and shells in August 2008 was deeply engraved in her memory.
“I still shudder from the loud noise; I even have a fear of fireworks to a certain extent. I remember how we were in basements and mentally prepared for death. At the same time, our hearts were torn for our loved ones - fathers, brothers and sons, who opposed the Georgian troops in an unequal battle. It’s impossible to forget,” said Dzhioeva.
Another resident of the capital, Kristina Margieva, has noted that it is difficult to find analogues in world history for the inhumanity and cruelty of the Georgian aggressors.
“The genocide committed against our people must not be consigned to oblivion. The enemy did not spare our children, old people and women, and still has not been punished. It is painful to see that the world community does not condemn the Georgian fascists for the atrocities they committed against the Ossetians in 1920, 1989-1992, and in 2008 they wanted to turn our republic into an “open field”. I would very much like to hope that in the end justice will prevail and Georgia will bear responsibility for its actions,” Margieva said.
The action on the square continued with a commemorative event "Pages of Genocide", which is organized by the Committee on Youth Policy and Sports. There will be shown footage of the genocide of the Ossetian people, and a requiem concert with the participation of South Ossetian performers will also take place.
On Saturday, August 8, the action "Holy places of our memory" will take place, during which the public and the leadership of South Ossetia will visit the graves of the defenders of the Fatherland, victims of genocide.
Memorial services are held in the churches of the Republic for the repose of civilians, Russian and South Ossetian soldiers killed during the Georgian aggression.
