A nationwide minute of silence was observed in South Ossetia in remembrance of the 30th anniversary of the brutal massacre of more than 30 Ossetian civilians by the Georgian armed forces on the Zar bypass road.
A memorial rally was held at the monument to the victims of the Zar tragedy. More than a hundred residents of the Republic, the newly elected president of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev, heads of government and the Parliament Gennady Bekoev and Alan Tadtaev, a delegation from North Ossetia-Alania headed by Deputy Chairman of Parliament Garry Kuchiev, relatives of the victims, representatives of the public of South Ossetia came to honor the memory of the murdered at the obelisk "Grieving Mother" .
It seemed that nature itself was crying along with people. It was snowing in May in Zar, and severe frost penetrated those who had gathered to lay flowers and wreaths at the monument to the victims of the Zar tragedy.
Prime Minister Gennady Bekoev reminded that 30 years ago, on May 20, 1992, Georgian military formations mercilessly shot down a column of refugees who tried to escape from the besieged and shot city on the eve of the humanitarian crisis in South Ossetia.
“33 killed children, women, old people… they shot everyone, no one was spared,” Bekoev said. - The act of genocide committed by the Georgian military cannot be called a spontaneous crime, the killers knew very well and planned this massacre. They knew that unarmed civilians were driving this road, trying to save their wives, children and the elderly from the horrors of war.
The Prime Minister has noted that the crime that took place 30 years ago can be characterized as an anti-human act against the entire Ossetian people.
“On May 20, 1992, all of Ossetia shuddered from this horror, but the terrorist act seemed to unite the entire Ossetian people into one large family,” he noted. - Our descendants should know and remember this terrible tragedy that affected the entire Ossetian people. The Ossetian people will remember this day as the bloodiest and most brutal act of the Georgian military aggression against South Ossetia.”
Alan Gagloev, speaking at the rally, has noted that it is difficult to find words when you think and understand how much Ossetian blood was shed on this land.
“30 years have passed since the Zar tragedy, but the wounds do not heal,” said Gagloev. “There were many such hard times in the history of South Ossetia, but we have no right to forget them.”
Gagloev has expressed gratitude to everyone who remembers and does not forget this tragedy.
“Today, even the severe weather reminds us of that tragedy, conveying to us that heavy atmosphere of May 20, 1992,” he stressed. “But the Ossetian people are standing here today, they were able to survive, despite all the trials.”
Gagloev has noted that today the roots of neo-fascism are breaking through in Ukraine.
“Yesterday, the Ossetian land took a guy, a hero who had been fighting against fascism in Ukraine. Today, we are also burying another warrior," said Gagloev. - But we have no other choice. Neo-fascism must be strangled in the bud, otherwise tomorrow it will come to our homes. We will overcome everything together, and the sun will rise over the Ossetian people through our joint efforts.”
Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of North Ossetia - Alania Garry Kuchiev has noted that today is a day of mourning not only in the south, but also in the north of Ossetia.
“Today I represent both the head of the Republic, and the government, and all the inhabitants of North Ossetia. We are one nation and we will always be together,” he said. “30 years have passed since the Zar tragedy, but the pain and sorrow will never go away.”
Director of the South Ossetian National Museum Merab Zasseev has noted that there are dates that remain a scar on the heart.
“But there are dates that remain, like bleeding wounds that do not heal. Today's date is just that one," Zasseev has emphasized.
At the end of the rally, Minister of Culture Zhanna Zasseeva has read the excerpts from telegrams from the incumbent President Anatoly Bibilov, as well as former war correspondents who were in the Republic during the coverage of this tragedy.
