A memorial plaque to Azamat Bestaev, perished during the special military operation, was unveiled in Tskhinval. The ceremony was attended by the hero's relatives and friends, fellow servicemen from the 4th Russian military base and concerned residents of the capital.
Aza Bestaeva, former principal of School No. 5, where Azamat studied, shared her memories of the hero.
"He was our pupil. I remember him as a wonderful, calm, cultured and polite boy," she said.
Bestaeva emphasized Azamat's remarkable character traits, his love for teachers, school and comrades.
She has reminded the tragic events of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, when the dead boys were being buried in the courtyard of School No. 5.
"A mass grave was formed there, and 35 of them are graduates of our school. Our children saw all of this: how the guys stood up to defend the Fatherland, how they died for the sake of a peaceful sky over Ossetia," Bestaeva said.
Acting Commander of the 4th Russian military base, Guards Colonel Radzhab Aliyev has noted that the opening of a memorial plaque to Azamat Bestaev is a step towards perpetuating the memory of all residents of South Ossetia perished in the special military operation zone.
"The today's event will go down in history as a tribute to the memory of Azamat, a defender of the Fatherland, a true patriot. It will serve as the example for the younger generation of South Ossetia, who will be proud of his exploits," Aliev has noted. "Azamat was a worthy serviceman of the 4th base, the example for young soldiers, enjoyed well-deserved authority and respect. He was conscientiously carrying out all the assigned tasks. The 4th base will always remember Azamat, his fellow soldiers will be proud of his exploits. We wish everyone a peaceful sky, prosperity and long life. Azamat is alive in our hearts."
Azamat began serving in the 4th Russian military base in 2019. He was taking part in the special military operation almost from the first days of its beginning.
He was wounded three times. The first time was in the village of Sladkoe. For two days under shelling, he was crawling to his fellow soldiers, but refused to go to the hospital. In April 2022, he received a concussion in the Mariupol port and was sent to the hospital in the city of Rostov. After rehabilitation, he again went to the special military operation zone and was wounded in the village of Rabotino. After undergoing rehabilitation again, he returned to the combat zone. Unfortunately, death does not choose good and bad.
Sergeant Bestaev Azamat died on November 25, 2023, in the Zaporizhye direction near the village of Kamenskoye. He was 28 years old. His three-year-old daughter was left without a father.
For the courage and bravery shown during the special military operation, Azamat was awarded the Suvorov, Zhukov, Valery Khubulov medals, and also, posthumously, the Order of Courage by decree of President of the Russian Federation. The hero is buried in the Zguder cemetery.
