On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the genocide of the Ossetian people, the Official Representation of the Republic of South Ossetia in Transnistria, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Transnistria, held a memory action.
On the invitation of the head of the Official Representation of the Republic of South Ossetia in the PMR, Vitaly Yankovsky, the ceremony to pay tribute to the victims of the Ossetian genocide was attended by the Chairman of the PMR Supreme Council, Alexander Korshunov, Deputy Prime Minister of the PMR Stanislav Kasap, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR, Vitaliy Ignatiev, Minister of State Security of the PMR, Valeriy Gebos, Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Abkhazia in the PMR, Alexander Vataman, Chairman of the Armenian community of Transnistria, Gegham Gevorgyan.
After the announced minute of silence, the state flag of the Republic of South Ossetia was lowered on the flagpole in front of the Foreign Ministry building.
In his address to the participants of the event, the head of the Official Representation of the Republic of South Ossetia in the PMR Vitaly Yankovsky, in particular, noted: “June 20, 2020 is a mournful date in memory of the peaceful population of South Ossetia, tens of thousands of women, children and old people who died at the hands of Georgian punishers.
"Today in South Ossetia is declared a national mourning for the victims of the genocide. In Ossetia, the flags are lowered. A minute of silence was announced. These minutes of silence announced in many cities of the world are very important for the people of South Ossetia. This is a tribute to the dead. This is a signal to the living, so we show our unity! I am very grateful to the Transnistrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the opportunity to hold this ceremony, the people of Transnistria for their continued support and such sincere complicity, "the South Ossetian diplomat emphasized.
“Many years have passed since then, but the bloody crimes committed in 1920 have no statute of limitations and cannot be forgotten. We remember, we have not forgotten!” said Vitaliy Yankovsky.
Addressing the audience, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR noted: “Today we pay tribute to the memory within the framework of very tragic events that occurred on the territory of the fraternal South Ossetian people 100 years ago. At that time, thousands of people were killed, many lost their homes, women and children were killed, and farms were destroyed. Unfortunately, these events until today have not received an international assessment at the proper level. Genocide has no excuse; it cannot be forgotten.” According to him, the Transnistrians, who only yesterday were commemorating the anniversary of the Bender tragedy, are very familiar with the feelings of the fraternal people of South Ossetia. "
“In the period of modern history, we were tied not only by ties of friendship, mutual understanding, brotherhood, but also by those common adversities, and the trials that we had to pass shoulder to shoulder. We did not leave each other in this difficult period, and today the people of South Ossetia can look to the future with confidence, understanding that the fraternal peoples of Abkhazia, Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh are standing nearby,” said Vitaliy Ignatiev.
“Together with the Ossetian people, we empathize with the tragic date - the 100th anniversary of the genocide of the Ossetian people by Georgian national chauvinists. The Transnistrian people know firsthand what genocide is. In 1992, the nationalists of Moldova, uninvited, came to our homes and did terrible cruelty on our land. Genocide in any manifestation should not exist in our world. This is our position and we openly declare it,” said Chairman of the Supreme Council Alexander Korshunov.
At the end of the ceremony, participants left entries in the Book of Memory, opened by the Official Representation of the Republic of South Ossetia in Transnistria, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Ossetian people’s genocide. “Unfortunately, history repeated itself in the 21st century. The Ossetian people had to endure terrible events in 2008. We admire the courage and steadfastness of the Ossetian people! We wish a peaceful sky, happiness to all citizens of South Ossetia,” said Alexander Korshunov personally and on behalf of the Supreme Council in the Memory Book.
On behalf of the Government, Stanislav Kasap wrote: “Today in many countries it has become fashionable to rewrite history, revise historical views on the tragic events that took place decades ago ... Denying or forgetting about the genocide, the international community risks facing a repetition of the tragic events.”
“The bloody crimes of Georgia against the people of South Ossetia, committed in 1920, should not and cannot be forgotten, and there can be no forgiveness to anyone who committed them or stood behind them.
The official representation of the Republic of Abkhazia in the PMR shares this mournful date with South Ossetia, recalling the citizens of this country who died at the hands of Georgian punishers.
We grieve and empathize with you,” wrote Alexander Vataman in the Book of Memory.
