The fighters of the special purpose unit (OMON) of South Ossetia continue the glorious traditions laid down by the older generation and remain on guard of law and order and security of the Republic, President Alan Gagloev said, speaking at the ceremonial meeting in Tskhinval in honor of the 33rd anniversary of the founding of the Interior Ministry unit.
Alan Gagloev noted the invaluable contribution of the riot police to ensuring security and order in the republic.
According to him, celebrating the 33rd anniversary of the formation of the unit, tribute is paid to those who were standing at the origins of the creation of the legendary unit, who dedicated their lives to serving the Motherland, bravely and courageously defending their native land.
"We remember with special respect the founder of OMON, a true patriot and hero of South Ossetia - Vadim Gersanovich Gazzaev. In one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Republic, he made a fateful decision - to create a combat unit that became a support and protection for the people," the President said.
According to Alan Gagloev, from the very first days OMON proved its combat effectiveness, and just a few months later its employees received their baptism of fire in fierce battles for Tskhinval in the fuel and energy complex area.
"The OMON fighters invariably demonstrated fortitude, courage and bravery even in the most difficult conditions. In the following years, the unit was invariably on the front lines - both in the fight against crime and in the defense of the Fatherland. In August 2008, during the days of Georgia's military aggression against South Ossetia, the OMON officers once again proved their loyalty to the Motherland, selflessly and heroically defending their Republic. The names of the heroes who laid down their lives in the name of freedom and well-being of the Republic will forever remain in the memory of people,” he said.
The participants honored the memory of the fallen OMON fighters with a minute of silence.
The President expressed gratitude to the personnel and veterans of the unit for their devotion to the Motherland and daily work in the name of peace and tranquility on the South Ossetian land.
In honor of the 33rd anniversary of the OMON, the unit’s employees were awarded state and departmental awards of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The head of Ministry of Internal Affairs, Alan Guchmazov, also spoke at the ceremonial meeting.
According to him, the creation of the OMON in 1991 became one of the brightest pages in the history of the struggle of people of South Ossetia for their independence. The Minister noted the significant role of the founder and first commander Vadim Gazzaev in the formation of the unit.
“During the years of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, a young and small combat unit was one of the first to defend the Fatherland. With weapons in hand, they were able to defend the honor and dignity of our people. August 2008 was another test, the OMON officers once again showed themselves to be true heroes," Guchmazov said.
He added that the names of the heroes who laid down their lives in the name of freedom and the bright future of the homeland will forever remain in the grateful memory of the people.
Guchmazov has noted that today the young generation of OMON stands guard over public order, worthily continuing the combat traditions of their predecessors.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the veterans and the OMON fighters for their service, wishing them well-being, unbending will and high achievements in their professional activities.
The ceremonial meeting was also attended by Russian Ambassador to the Republic of South Ossetia Marat Kulakhmetov, Speaker of Parliament Alan Margiev and other officials, as well as the public of the Republic.
It should be noted that OMON was founded on February 14, 1992, and the first commander of the detachment, Vadim Gazzaev, played a special role in its creation. The creation of the detachment was dictated by the harsh times for the Republic, when the issue of the formation of the statehood of the RSO was being decided. In a short time, Vadim Gazzaev organized a detachment of brave and courageous young guys who entered into a deadly battle with the enemy many times superior in numbers – the Georgian national chauvinism.
