Государственное информационное агентство "Рес"

The leadership of South Ossetia, headed by President Alan Gagloev, laid wreaths and flowers at the places of the deaths of the Republic's defenders and civilians in August 2008.

The ceremony was also attended by the Russian Embassy in the Republic, representatives of the Parliament, law enforcement agencies, ministries, departments, the Mothers of Beslan, and others.

The ceremony began at the destroyed barracks of the Russian peacekeeping battalion, which was the first to take the aggressor's blow.

A monument to the Russian military pilot Vladimir Yedamenko, perished ed in August 2008, was unveiled in South Ossetia.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Republic's leadership, headed by President Alan Gagloev, representatives of the Russian Embassy and departments of the Republic.

"Yedamenko held the helm of his combat aircraft until the last second of his life and found peace in the fifth ocean. We must remember this hero who died for the land of South Ossetia, its future," Russian Ambassador to South Ossetia Marat Kulakhmetov said.

Young people need to be brought up in the spirit of patriotism, - said the father of the Russian soldier Alexei Ivanov, who had died heroically during the war in South Ossetia in 2008.

The hero's father spoke at the mourning event in Tskhinval dedicated to the next anniversary of the 08.08.08 war.

Sergey Ivanov expressed gratitude to the head of state for the invitation to visit the Republic to honor the memory of the guys killed in the August war.

People of Ossetia have once again united to express their grief, said Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of North Ossetia Aslanbek Gutnov, who arrived in Tskhinval to take part in the mourning events dedicated to the next anniversary of the war in August 2008.

"This is not the first time I have taken part in such a mourning event, it would seem that 16 years have passed, but the wounds in the hearts of the people do not heal," he said.

Gutnov has noted that people of Ossetia will always remember the heroic feat of the most worthy sons of Ossetia and Russia.

Commemorative events dedicated to the 16th anniversary of the 08.08.08 war will be held in the capital of South Ossetia on August 7 and 8, the press service of the Ministry of Culture reports.

"On Wednesday, at 18:00, at the Kosta Khetagurov State Drama Theater will be a screening of the tragedy "The Last Witness". Admission is free, - the Ministry has noted. - On the same day, at 22:00, a mourning event, a flower-laying ceremony, and the opening of a photo exhibition 08.08.08 will be held at the memorial complex "To the Defenders of the Fatherland".

The possible establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia will not harm the interests of South Ossetia, the head of the Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Akhsar Dzhioev said at the press conference in Tskhinval.

As noted by him, the Russian colleagues have repeatedly said that the rupture of diplomatic relations was the initiative of the Georgian side.

The South Ossetian Foreign Ministry plans to open embassies of the Republic in Nicaragua and Venezuela, the head of the RSO Foreign Ministry, Akhsar Dzhioyev, said at the press conference in Tskhinval on Tuesday.

"This issue is in the field of view of our department and will be implemented if there are appropriate conditions," Dzhioev said.

He has also emphasized that the Foreign Ministry's agenda includes the issue of recognizing the Republic's independence by other countries.

On the night of August 8, 2008, the Georgian troops attacked South Ossetia. This bloody war will forever remain in the memory of the people. And, especially, in the memory of the servicemen who were fighting for their homeland. Every year, on the anniversary of the August events, they remember these tragic days.

The head of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev congratulated the veterans of the Airborne Forces on the 94th anniversary of the formation of the Airborne Forces. During the meeting with the paratroopers, he has noted that the veterans of the Airborne Forces are an example to follow for the younger generation.

President Alan Gagloev held a meeting with the participants in the special military operation Bagir and Irbek Bichenov, the press service of the head of state reports.

Gagloev thanked the heroes for their difficult service. He has noted that, despite the high risk, the father and son went together to fulfill their military duty.