News

At the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia, near the village of Ergneti was held the 64th meeting in the format of Mechanisms to Prevent and Respond to Incidents (IPRM).

As reported after the meeting by the head of the South Ossetian delegation, the State Adviser to the President of South Ossetia David Sanakoev, in the course of the meeting were discussed the issues, related to the situation in the areas adjacent to the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia.

"Since the previous meeting were recorded 5 cases of violation of the state border by the citizens of Georgia, as well as the provocative actions in different sections of the state border- plowing on the territory of the Republic of South Ossetia, the actions of the citizens of Georgia, who crossed into the territory of our Republic. We have expressed concern about the situation, expressing the hope that such incidents will not happen in the future. "

According to Sanakoev, the South Ossetian delegation expressed gratitude to the participants in the IPRM, who participated in the mutual exchange of prisoners.

"For many years we discussed this issue, conducting negotiations and finally the decision has been reached", - concluded Sanakoev.

The icon of Okonsky Triptych is of great artistic value. This is a rare work of early Byzantine school of icon painting, made by ivory carving, decorated with pearls, gold and silver, told the news agency "Res" director of the National Museum of South Ossetia Merab Zaseev, commenting on the issue of returning to South Ossetia from Georgia the Okonsky triptych, stolen in 1991 from the Local History museum of the Republic.

"The fact that there is grandeur in this icon says about its value and importance in the Christian world, - said Zaseev. - It is surprising that the fragments of the similar icons are at the Royal British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of New York, and we had it fully. "

Zaseev has noted that according to the available information the Okonsky Triptych in value is in the same list with the icon of Our Lady of Blachernae.

"These icons are masterpieces of early Byzantine school of icon painting, - said Zaseev. - In our museum the Okonsk Triptych was since 1925 according to the decision of the Central Executive Committee. By the decision of the CEC the icon was removed from the Okonsky church in Znaur district of South Ossetia and handed over to the museum - Zaseev said. According to certain information, this icon was presented to the Alan prince by the Byzantine emperor. "

Zaseev has noted that the icon is the exhibit of paramount importance for the museum.

"Each icon, especially in the Middle Ages, when in the Caucasus was spread Christianity, was handed over with a prayer, and every icon belonged to a certain community, - added Zasseev.- And, of course, it was of great spiritual importance for them."

The director has noted that it is difficult to estimate the importance of the Okonsky Triptych.

"The icon was venerated by all Orthodox Christians – he said. - But, unfortunately, during the Georgian aggression, the icon was lost, and, according to the available information, is now in Georgia. Furthermore, attempts were made to its sale; it was estimated at 2.5 million euro."

Zaseev has expressed the hope that during the negotiation process the parties will approach with great care to the issue of returning the Okonsky triptych to South Ossetian authorities.

"If we could only talk about an objective assessment of the situation by the International community and those involved in the consequences of the Georgian aggression against South Ossetia, such values are usually returned to the original owners after any war, - said Zasseev.- And we honestly cherish hope that this issue will be considered objectively, with due attention and the process will lead to good results. "

The day before, at a meeting with the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov, Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev has noted that in Geneva South Ossetian representatives intend to raise issues of preserving the Ossetian artifacts being now in Georgia.

"Once again, we will raise the issue of cultural heritage, the return of the Okonsky Triptych to South Ossetia, stolen in 1991 from our Local History Museum and being now on the territory of Georgia", - stressed the envoy.

South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov has met with the South Ossetian citizens, who for many years were serving sentence in prisons of Georgia on trumped-up charges. The relatives of the released citizens of South Ossetia have expressed their gratitude to the President, because thanks to the efforts of Leonid Tibilov today the guys have returned home. This fact was emphasized by the relatives and the released guys at a meeting with the President.

The mother of one of the released guys who has returned home after 11 years imprisonment, Lyudmila Usovich has noted that due to the efforts applied by Leonid Tibilov today her son George Zaseev and the other guys have returned home. According to her, she remembers, as the President gave her and other families promise, he was in a permanent solution to this problem since the early days of his presidency.

"I want to express my admiration for your courage, - said Lyudmila Usovich. - You gave us a promise that our sons would be released, and you have kept it. During your presidency, we were feeling your constant support. This is a great gift for all of us. You have given us new life. This would not have been without your efforts. I will remember it all my life. "

The released guys have also thanked the President.

"It`s too hard for us today to believe in this miracle. All these years we have been with our people. Thanks to you, Mr. President, we can now confidently start living " - expressed their gratitude to the President the released citizens.

The parents also addressed the words of gratitude to the President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba.

Tibilov congratulated the citizens released from Georgian prisons to return to their native land.

"Since then, as you were captured by our southern neighbors, the aggressors, we together with your loved ones were doing everything to meet you as soon as possible, - the president said. -

You spent so many years in prisons of Georgia, serving a sentence on trumped-up charges. And, finally, you have returned to your native land, you love so much. I want to express my gratitude to all those who contributed to your release, especially your loved ones, who not for a minute forgot about you all these years. "

According to the President, the question to release the South Ossetian citizens from Georgian prisons have repeatedly been raised at the Geneva discussions.

"Several times I myself have met with co-chairs of the Geneva discussions to ensure that the question of releasing our citizens convicted on trumped-up charges, to be raised in the framework of the existing international format, - the president said. - Special thanks I want to express to the President of Abkhazia - Raul Khajimba. In September 2015, when he was in South Ossetia on the occasion of celebration the 25th anniversary of the Republic, I discussed with him the issues relating to our citizens in Georgian prisons. "

Leonid Tibilov has also noted that for the needs of the released South Ossetian citizens from the presidential fund will be allocated funds in the amount of 200 thousand rubles.

The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister of South Ossetia Domenty Kulumbegov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Republic for the post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev, South Ossetian Presidential Adviser David Sanakoev, Presidential Commissioner for Human Rights Inal Tasoev.

Georgy Zasseev, Joseph Kochiev, Georgy Valiev and Boris Turashvili were sentenced to life imprisonment in Georgia on trumped-up charges.

March 11, they were met by hundreds of residents of Tskhinval.

Today in the framework of mutual release and exchange of prisoners, on the Abkhaz-Georgian border, citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia Georgi Zaseev, Joseph Kochiev, Georgy Valiev and Boris Turashvili were handed over to representatives of the South Ossetian authorities.

The procedure was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, RSO Ambassador to Armenia Oleg Botsiev, official representatives of the Republic of Abkhazia.

In response, several Georgian citizens, imprisoned in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, have also been released.

Georgi Zaseev, Joseph Kochiev, Georgy Valiev were sentenced to life imprisonment in Georgia in 2005 on trumped-up charges of committing a terrorist act in the Georgian town of Gori on 1 February 2005. Boris Turashvili was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, also on false charge of kidnapping the Georgian MP.

The release of the citizens of South Ossetia was held in cooperation with the Abkhaz side and in accordance with the agreements reached in the format of the Geneva discussions, as well as between the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov and President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba.

President Leonid Tibilov, respecting the requests of parents of the unlawfully convicted in Georgia citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia and feeling compassion for their fate, was giving moral and material support to the families of the convicted. In December 2014 he pardoned a citizen of Georgia Dzherapov, convicted in South Ossetia, in anticipation of a retaliatory move by the Georgian authorities.

The President also sent a letter to the co-chairs of the Geneva discussions with the appeal as mediators to assist in the mutual release of prisoners.

The arrival of the released citizens in Tskhinval is expected on Friday, March 11th..

The report of the independent expert Dusan Ignyatovich on the South Ossetian citizens to be listed missing since 2008 will be handed over to their relatives, - told reporters at a briefing in Tskhinval the OSCE co-chairman Gunter Behler, commenting on the results of the meeting of the Geneva discussions co-chairs with members of the South Ossetian delegation.

"We talked a lot about the work done by the independent expert Dusan Ignyatovich - Behler said. - We have submitted to the South Ossetian side the report on the work he has done. This report will also be given to the relatives of the missing persons. We are ready to meet their requirements. "

The OON Co-Chair Antti Turunen has noted the progress in the work of experts on the draft document on the non-use of force between Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia.

"There is some progress in the work of experts on this document - said Turunen. – We have reached common understanding on some items, and there is a good basis to continue this work. We hope that soon we will announce the results of our work. "

The EU officer Björn Kühne has added that at the last meeting were also discussed humanitarian issues.

"I would like to thank the South Ossetian colleagues for a good discussion - Kuehne said. - On this basis, we hope, will be held good discussions in Geneva. Today we have discussed issues of water supply, irrigation systems, issues of the missing persons, as well as issues of cultural heritage.

We hope to find a humanitarian approach to address these issues to improve the situation. "

According to the South Ossetian Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement, the head of the delegation in the format of the Geneva discussions Murat Dzhioev, during the meeting were discussed in detail the issues that will be raised at the forthcoming round of the Geneva discussions.

"All participants of today's discussion understand the need to move in the matter concerning the document on the non-use of force - said Dzhioev. In this direction, there are certain impulses, and we hope that at the forthcoming round we will make a small, but still a step towards the promotion of a comprehensive document on the non-use of force between Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia. "

Dzhioev has also noted that during the meeting has been noted the positive role of the format of Mechanisms to prevent and respond to incidents (IPRM).

"We have noted the positive work of the Mechanisms to prevent and respond to incidents, thanks to their work there is quite a stable situation along the border between South Ossetia and Georgia", - concluded Dzhioev.

The delegation of the co-chairs of the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia has included the OSCE co-chair Gunter Buhler, the UN Co-Chair Antti Turunen, the UN co-chair Frank Remus and Irina Egorova, the EU co-chairs Björn Kühne, Torsten Ahren, Emmanuel Anquetil, as well as the OSCE representatives Armin Rieser and James O'Shea.

The Delegation of the EU, UN and OSCE Co-Chairs of the Geneva international discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia have met in Tskhinval with the delegation of South Ossetia, which represents the Republic at the Geneva discussions.

The meeting was organized to discuss preparations for the 35 round of the Geneva talks to be held in Geneva on March 22-23.

At the beginning of the meeting members of the delegation were welcomed by Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy of South Ossetia for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev

According to him, the challenges facing the Geneva discussions are very important and relevant.

"Despite the fact that the discussions are held for eighth year, the main task is to prepare a legally binding document on the non-use of force between Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia."

Dzhioev has expressed confidence that today's meeting will be productive.

"I'm sure we'll work today fruitfully, -we will go over the agenda of the forthcoming round, noting the main goals, and making a breakthrough in resolving the main issue of the discussions "- Dzhioev said.

The Envoy has reminded about the results of the previous round of the Geneva discussions.

"We were working on a joint statement of all participants in the Geneva discussions on the commitment to the principle of non-use of force - said Dzhioev. - Then our delegation noted that the co-chairs could prepare the draft resolution which would be acceptable to all participants in the discussions, that all the delegations at the Geneva talks were authorized and directed to work on a document on the non-use of force. "

The OON Co-Chair Antti Turunen has noted that the co-chairs are interested in stabilizing the Geneva talk’s process.

"We have discussed the main issues and the comments made in the course of preparation for the next round - Turunen said. - The Co-Chairs also want to make progress, stabilizing the process of the Geneva discussions. We have also conducted internal discussions that the next round to be productive, noting that the situation in the region is stable that should also contribute to the progress in the Geneva talks. "

Then the meeting continued behind closed doors.

A joint exhibition of works by the well-known Ossetian artists "Ossetian palette on the banks of the Neva River" will be held in the cultural capital of the Russian Federation from 6 to 19 March.

On the Cathedral square in Tskhinval took place the ceremony of laying flowers on the monument to the defenders of Ossetia. The ceremony was attended by the leadership of the Republic headed by President Leonid Tibilov, Prime Minister Domenti Kulumbegov, MPs led by Speaker Anatoly Bibilov, the staff of ministries and agencies, members of the South Ossetian State University headed by the rector Vadim Tedeev and representatives of law enforcement agencies and the public.

President Leonid Tibilov congratulated on the upcoming Defender of the Fatherland Day, noting the significance of this date for each citizen of South Ossetia.

"Defender of the Fatherland Day is a day that is significant to each of us, - Tibilov said. - Our people have undergone many severe trials on the path to freedom and recognition of the independence of our country, but we have overcome all the difficulties due to the support and assistance of the Russian Federation. "

Speaker of the Parliament Anatoly Bibilov has also congratulated representatives of the security, defence and law enforcement agencies on the upcoming holiday, wishing them peace and prosperity.

"This is a holiday for all those who defended their homeland, - said Bibilov. – We will always remember the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the sake of peace in South Ossetia. "

It should be noted that the celebration events in South Ossetia are canceled due to the death of the head of North Ossetia Tamerlan Aguzarov.

Within the framework of the Treaty of Alliance and Integration between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation, today in Moscow will be signed the Memorandum and the Action Plan on rendering assistanceSouth Ossetia in theimplementation of theprogram of sports and tourism development.

According to the Committee on Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism of South Ossetia, "it is planned to sign a Memorandum between the Federal Agency for Tourism and the Committee on Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of South Ossetia in the field of tourism for 2016-2019, as well as the Memorandum between the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation and the Committee on Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism of South Ossetia".

It should be noted that the Memorandum between the Federal Agency for Tourism and the Committee on Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism of South Ossetia provides for the development of tourist exchange, where the parties will contribute to creating favorable conditions for organization of tourist exchange between the two countries. According to the document, the parties will support cooperation of educational institutions of both countries for the purpose of education, training and advanced training of professional personnel for the tourism industry, exchanging the information on the legislation of both states in the field of tourism, including changes in laws and regulations relating to government regulation of the industry, on the system of classification and quality control of tourist and hotel services, exchange of information on investment proposals in the field of tourism and contribute to the development of cooperation between the tourist organizations of the two countries, investment in the tourism industry, as well as to promote protection of the interests and security of tourists in the territory of both countries.

The Memorandum signed between the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation and the Committee on Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of South Ossetia also provides for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of sport. In particular, the parties will encourage cooperation between public sports institutions, sports federations and other sports organizations in the following areas: elite sport, mass sports, sports for the disabled, youth sport; education in sport; volunteer programs; sports science and sports medicine; sports infrastructure; struggle against doping in sport; holding major sporting events; coordination of cooperation within international and public organizations

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched an investigation of crimes committed during the armed conflict in South Ossetia in 2008, according to the document published on the official website of the ICC.

"After examining the application and supporting materials, the Chamber decided that there were reasonable grounds to believe that the crimes within the ICC's jurisdiction had been committed in Georgia", - the document says.

The State Adviser to the President of South Ossetia Konstantin Kochiev has stressed that for more than seven years since Georgia's attack on South Ossetia in 2008, no one in Georgia was prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed against the civilian population of South Ossetia and Russian peacekeepers.

"It gave formal grounds for the International Criminal Court to authorize a formal investigation on representation of the Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda - said Kochiev. - The Investigative Committee of Russia submitted to the International Criminal Court a huge amount of materials, confirming the guilt of Georgia."

According to Kochiev, "the ICC Prosecutor, apparently, will not collaborate with the authorities of South Ossetia in order to avoid even the hint of recognition of the international personality of our country."

"At the same time it is difficult to imagine that the ICC would violate the unwritten "concepts" and put in the dock the wards of the West - the criminal Georgian servicemen and representatives of the Georgian authorities "trained and equipped " by NATO members, who gave the criminal commands", -said the State Adviser to the President of South Ossetia.

According to Konstantin Kochiev, it is generally known that the "international justice" of The Hague is based on the principles of double standards, when the title of the US satellite is equivalent to the indulgence even for thosewho areobviously guilty of crimes against humanity.