The Russian Federation, despite the most powerful opposition from Western countries, made the only just decision, and on August 26, 2008, recognized the Republic as a sovereign and independent state.
This was stated by President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev at the solemn meeting dedicated to the 14th anniversary of the recognition of the independence of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation.
The event is taking place in the building of the State Drama Theater in Tskhinval. It traditionally began with the introduction of the state flags of South Ossetia and Russia and the anthem.
According to the head of state, today people of South Ossetia are celebrating one of the most significant days in modern history - the Day of Recognition of the Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation.
"14 years have passed since the day when the desire of the South Ossetian people came true. The Russian Federation, despite the most powerful opposition from Western countries, made the only just decision, and on August 26, 2008, recognized the Republic of South Ossetia as a sovereign and independent state. We got the opportunity to build a peaceful future under the protection of Great Russia, preserved our language, culture and the right to live on our land," he said.
The President has stressed that for centuries the Ossetian people steadfastly resisted attempts at assimilation by the aggressive neighbor, in recent history Georgia tried three times to conquer South Ossetia by force of arms, while the collective West, hiding behind the slogans of "democracy" and "freedom", supported the chauvinistic policy of Georgia.
"And only Russia supported us all this time, providing assistance and protection. From 1992 to 2008, Russia's unprecedented peacekeeping operation to maintain peace in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict lasted. During all this time, Georgia did not want to recognize and condemn violence and ethnic purges against Ossetians. On the contrary, it was preparing for a forceful, military solution to the conflict. On August 8, on the day the Olympics began, Georgia treacherously launched a large-scale military aggression against South Ossetia. But the enemy miscalculated, his plans were not destined to come true. Hundreds of the best sons and daughters of Ossetia, military personnel of the Russian Federation and peacekeeping forces, volunteers and defenders of the Motherland gave their lives for the freedom and independence of our Republic. The enemy was defeated! And already on August 26, 2008, Russia recognized the state independence of South Ossetia. The long-awaited peace has come, "the head of state said in his speech.
According to him, the memory of the fallen heroes and all those who contributed to strengthening the statehood of the Republic of South Ossetia will always be kept in South Ossetia.
Alan Gagloev noted the great contribution of Alan Chochiev to the building of the statehood of South Ossetia: "At this solemn hour, I cannot help but recall the name of one of the founders of our statehood, Alan Rezoevich Chochiev, who has recently passed away. I ask you to observe a minute of silence for Alan Rezoevich and all those who died in the struggle for freedom and independence of South Ossetia.
The President gave a high assessment to the South Ossetian-Russian relations.
"We will always be grateful to the Russian people, the leadership of the Russian Federation represented by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev for this fateful, saving decision for the South Ossetian people. The historical destinies of Russia and South Ossetia have always been interconnected. And now they are forever intertwined. The only vector of our development is rapprochement and integration with Russia. When entering South Ossetia through the Ruck tunnel, from afar you see a huge inscription "THANK YOU RUSSIA" laid out by our students. And now we all repeat these words with gratitude "Thank you Russia!" the head of state has emphasized.
Delegations from the fraternal republics came to congratulate the South Ossetian people on the anniversary of recognition: North Ossetia headed by Sergei Menyailo, Kabardino-Balkaria, the DPR and the LPR, Dagestan and others.
The solemn meeting is attended by ex-presidents Ludwig Chibirov and Leonid Tibilov, Russian Ambassador Marat Kulakhmetov, ex-Minister of Defense Anatoly Barankevich, heads of government and parliament, heads of departments, and members of the public.
The solemn meeting began with historical footage of the struggle of the South Ossetian and Abkhaz peoples for the independence of the republics, speeches by the then President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev.
During the solemn meeting, the head of state presented the highest state award of the Republic, the Order of Honor, to the head of North Ossetia, Sergei Menyailo, the former Defense Minister of the Republic of South Ossetia, Anatoly Barankevich, and an active participant in hostilities, Ruslan Bolotaev.
