Flash poll: 21 years ago the Supreme Council of South Ossetia adopted the Act of Independence of South Ossetia. How relevant is this step in the modern history of South Ossetia?
Boris Chochiev, head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of South Ossetia:
The proclamation of the state independence of the Republic of South Ossetia, May 29, 1992 was the only right step on the way to build a sovereign state, the logical conclusion of a coherent system of basic laws and regulations, on which is based the legal viability of the position of our people.
Of course, the act of declaring the independence has not automatically led to a full and final legal implementation of the entire legal system of the newly formed state (for example, has not yet been adopted the Constitution and other laws and regulations), but with the adoption of the Act started a complex and multifaceted process of the formation and development of the Republic of South Ossetia as a subject of international law.
Much has been said in what difficult conditions the deputies of the Supreme Soviet of South Ossetia adopted this act. Many of the deputies came to the discussion of this question straight from the trenches, and after the vote returned there again, defending the civilian population of the country, as at the time of voting the sounds of explosions of the artillery shells and rockets, were shaking the Council House building.
But no less important is the indisputable fact that, despite the difficult conditions associated with the war, unleashed by Georgia, and the genocide of the Ossetian people, the constant shelling, at the risk of life, military, political, economic and information blockade of South Ossetia, the regulations, on which is based the independence of our country, were discussed thoroughly, which predetermined their legal perfection. Honour and praise to the deputies of the Supreme Soviet of the first convocation of the RSO, thanks to which our Republic has a solid foundation. Nice to know that I, myself, for 9 years, was a chairman of the Central Election Commission, as well as in the election, when was elected the Supreme Soviet - the convening of the first parliament of the independent, sovereign Republic of South Ossetia.
Today, thanks to Russia, the Republic of South Ossetia is building a new, peaceful life, overcoming the consequences of two decades of a difficult situation, and we believe that the high ideals embodied by the patriots of Ossetia 21 years ago, will be implemented in full. Some representatives of today's generation, who experienced all the hardships over the past 20 years, express indignation, they say, why all these evils fell to their lot. And I want to say, thank God that in our time and with our direct participation was created our independent state, for which our forefathers had been fighting more than 700 years!
This is a great happiness.
And I believe that with the help of the great brotherly Russia our future generations will be proud of us, that the people of South Ossetia will never be a part of the failed State of Georgia, the rulers of which have inspired their people the absurd idea of the "chosen people" and throughout the history have been building their happiness on the misfortunes and tragedy of other nations.
Julietta Ostaeva, South Ossetian State University`s pro-rector for scientific work:
In the history of any country there are the events that have predetermined the fate of this nation for many years ahead. I think that in the history of our Republic the Act of declaration of the independence is crucial. It means that the people performed their historic mission by creating a state and cemented this step legally. It has given the people confidence in the future and has mobilized them for being creative. Unfortunately, history decreed that the Act was adopted in the course of the military confrontation between the two states - Georgia and South Ossetia; this confrontation was initiated by the high rank politicians, with the support of the Western powers. Despite the disparity, we have survived then and gained our independence. We have to keep in mind, who has always been with us. Russia for centuries helped the people of South Ossetia and the first has recognized our independence. Today, we are on the way to achieve the national idea - full independence, creating the economic base for the independent existence, cultural development and the return of those traditions that make our nation proud and independent.
Meliton Kazity, Chairman of the Writers' Union of the Republic of South Ossetia:
For South Ossetia, one of the most difficult times were the 1990s, it was caused by the repeated military conflict with Georgia, which tried to destroy our people. One of the preconditions for the creation of a sovereign state was the adoption of the Act of Independence May 29, 1992. Without this document, today, we would not be recognized as a sovereign state. At that time our neighbors were trying to wipe the Ossetians, as a nation, from the face of the earth, and still pursue this goal, that is evidenced by their obsession with territorial integrity.
The adoption of the Act of Independence contributed to the consolidation of the South Ossetian society, as well as the desire to achieve the independence hand in hand with the friendly states. And we succeeded in this after two decades.
Kosta Dzugaev, a philosopher:
We, the older generation, remember the atmosphere in which was adopted this historic document. Those were the days when a rocket-artillery and sniper fire killed and maimed people - our citizens - every day. May 20-is a day of the terrible Zar tragedy. It became absolutely clear that the Georgian state and South Ossetia were going different ways. The will of the people was unequivocal – the independence. No with Georgia! We realized this thing without doubt and compromise - as realized it the new generation of heroes, defending their homeland in the bloody battles of August 8 -9, 2008. It was and it is the "independence from ..." - From the destructive impact of the Georgian state. But, thank God, we have always strived for national unity - the unity of the Ossetian people, and so the document on the proclamation of the independence should be understood not only as the "independence from ...", but also as the "independence for..." It is a starting-point for the national unity, reunification with the North Ossetians. The Act on the State Independence of South Ossetia has been and continues to be our "Rubicon": after all, how many years we had been waiting, enduring hardships, believing that our statehood would be recognized. And now we are the recognized country. Now we have to move forward, because, as always, the main events are in the future.
