On the Day of Remembrance and Mourning - May 20 (the 33rd anniversary of the Zar tragedy) memorial events will be held in South Ossetia, the Republican Commission for the preparation and holding of socially significant events reports.
"In the village of Zar in Tskhinval district, at 11:15 a.m., a ceremony of laying flowers and wreaths at the obelisk "Grieving Mother" - a monument to the victims of the terrible tragedy 33 years ago - will begin, after which a rally will take place," the Commission has noted.
For those wishing to attend the memorial events, transport will depart from the Theater Square in Tskhinval at 9:30 a.m.
On the same day, at 6:00 p.m., the State Drama Theater will host a performance of the musical and choreographic production "To be remembered."
On May 20, 1992, during the Georgian aggression, the civilians who were trying to escape from the blockaded Tskhinval to Russia were shot from ambush on the bypass road near the village of Zar.
36 people were killed (according to other sources - 33 people). Among the dead were mainly women, children and the elderly. Over the past years, this crime has remained unpunished.
A memorial complex was opened at the site of the tragedy on September 17, 2007. The author of the memorial project is an artist Sarmat Zasseev, who was assisted by the artists Tamerlan Tskhovrebov, Nikolai Ikoev and Akhsartag Alborov.
The sculpture depicts a mother shielding her child, who stretched out her hand to God in search of protection and patronage.
At the bottom of the pedestal is a list of the victims of the Zar tragedy.
Annually, on May 20, mourning funeral rallies are held at the memorial.
