Андрей Тадтаев

The activities of the Georgian non-governmental organization "Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian House" and its founder Nestan Kirtadze have aroused bewilderment and indignation in South Ossetia. This was stated by the presidential envoy on post-conflict settlement in South Ossetia Boris Chochiev, commenting, in particular, the meeting of Kirtadze with representatives of the European Union Observer Mission in Georgia, where it has been declared intention of the Mission to open shopping centers in the Georgian villages bordering with South Ossetia and Abkhazia; they consider that it will be "direct salvation" for "people who have found themselves in a tight situation." "To say that opening of these shopping centers will be a direct salvation to the residents of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and that the majority of our people are living in extreme poverty – is nonsense.

Russian border guards in South Ossetia detained four citizens of Georgia for violation of the state border. It has been reported to IA "Res" at the press service of the Border Control Agency of the FSS of Russia in South Ossetia. "On 22 January 2012, at 13:25, the employees of the Border Control Agency of FSS of Russia, South Ossetia detained three citizens of Georgia near the village Diseu (Tskhinval District of South Ossetia), for making an attempt of illegal crossing of the state border of South Ossetia and Georgia.

Ex-presidential candidate of South Ossetia Alla Dzhioeva withdrew her signature under the compromise agreement signed December 9, 2011 on resolving the political crisis in the Republic after the November presidential election. As reported to IA "Res" by Alla Dzhioeva, the letter with notification of withdrawal from the agreement and the requirement to the Acting President Vadim Brovtsev to transfer her power was sent to the presidential administration on January 17.

Today in South Ossetia Christmas is being celebrated, as well as throughout the Orthodox world. On the night of January 7 in Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Tskhinval, the night Christmas liturgy was chanted by the opposing Greek Old Calendar Church representative, the Bishop Ambrose Mefonsky.

The Central Election Committee (CEC) of South Ossetia has begun preparations for the presidential elections scheduled for March 25, 2012. As reported to IA "Res" by the RSO CEC Chairman Bella Plieva, the first meeting of the Committee has been held today with its previous composition.

Several tens of supporters of ex-presidential candidate, the opposition leader of South Ossetia Alla Dzhioeva held the protest rally in the center of Tskhinval in connection with the actions of Parliament, which had voted against resignation of Attorney General Taymuraz Khugaev and the Chief Justice Atsamaz Bichenov on December 14. However, soon, the demonstrators decided to stop the action, as it was unauthorized; according to one of the leaders of the opposition - Sergey Zasseev - they are going officially ask the authorities for legal resolution and hold a rally on Sunday, if the points of the agreement have not been fulfilled.

Supporters of the ex-presidential candidate of South Ossetia Alla Dzhioeva, holding a meeting in the square, have appealed to the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin; they addressed to the top leadership of the Russian Federation to draw attention to the actions of representatives of Moscow which, according to authors of the appeal, «are supporting illegal actions of the authorities of the Republic» and do not want «to hear and see the truth of events». «Support of illegal actions of the authorities of the Republic, which have openly ignored the Constitution of the country and lost the people's trust, causes bewilderment and gives a handle for revenge to different international forces, that is neither in the interests of Russia, no in the interests of South Ossetia», - the appeal contains.

In the centre of Tskhinval the protest action of supporters of the ex-presidential candidate of South Ossetia Alla Dzhioeva is still in progress. About 150 oppositionists are still holding a meeting in the central square. They made fires, put tents and declared that they would stand until the authorities have fulfilled their requirements.

The Euro-Parliament resolution on Georgia, adopted on November, 17, has no any political value for South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It has been declared IA "RES" by the Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of South Ossetia Mira Tskhovrebova; she has made comments on the resolution adopted by the European Parliament, which contains appeal to Russia on withdrawing its troops from the RSO and Abkhazia and also the appeal to the European Union - to recognize the young Transcaucasian states as the «occupied territories of Georgia».

The former candidate for Presidency of South Ossetia Vladimir Kelekhsaev is going to support Alla Dzhioeva in the second round of the presidential election. «I hope that Alla Dzhioeva will win the second round of presidential election of South Ossetia. I am going to join Alla Dzhioeva, because, first, she is in opposition, secondly, I completely support her», - Kelekhsaev has declared the correspondent of IA "RES". Concerning the voting results, the ex-candidate has noticed that he expected more support of voters.