A gala reception dedicated to the National Unity Day was held in the capital of South Ossetia.
The Republic's leadership, representatives of the Russian Embassy, compatriots, and the public gathered at the event to celebrate one of the key holidays in modern history.
The head of the Russian House in Tskhinval, Sergei Komissarov, emphasized the anniversary nature and profound meaning of the holiday.
"These 20 years have demonstrated the significance of the events that form the basis of this holiday. We have a strong army, a strong navy. We have many milestones and events in our history of which we are proud. These include individual battles, and won wars. But there were moments in our history when only by gathering the entire nation into a single fist could we overcome external threats.
In 1612, such event occurred in Rus'. "Thirty years of anarchy, thirty years of intervention, ended only when Minin and Pozharsky assembled a people's militia and were able to win together.
It is precisely this unity that allows our great Russia to exist. Not just exist, but now aspire to a just, multi-polar world," he said.
Russian Ambassador to South Ossetia Marat Kulakhmetov also drew attention to the unifying power of the holiday.
"National Unity Day is a holiday that is difficult to overestimate. If we look back at history, the unity of our peoples has always been the foundation of our vast country. We cannot divide our common heritage: be it religion, great poets, military leaders, or scientists who created peaceful nuclear energy and launched spacecraft.
We are proud of our athletes, including those from South Ossetia, whose victories raised the flag of our homeland, and we proudly said, 'This is our champion!'" "And when we say 'ours,' we mean our shared heritage. As long as we have this word, we are invincible," he said.
Kulakhmetov has continued that, just as many years ago, during those distant years of difficult trials, our soldiers in the SVO zone are fulfilling their assigned tasks.
"I am confident that we will win because we are together. Without this, nothing is possible. We are obliged, and we will win. And on this day, I want to congratulate you all on the holiday and wish you health, prosperity, peaceful sky, and South Ossetia. Happy holiday to you," the Ambassador has added.
The head of state Alan Gagloev emphasized that significant events, including both tragic and joyful moments, have occurred over the 20 years of jointly celebrating National Unity Day.
"There was 2008, but there was also August 26, when, together with you, with tears in our eyes, we celebrated the recognition of the state independence of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation.
"People will never forget these moments because they, too, are connected to unity, and our unity has saved us more than once. Our shared history has demonstrated this. If we treat each other, our great homeland and our small homeland, with this attitude, we will always be victorious," the President has emphasized.
Gagloev has added that every soldier in the special military operation zone feels this national unity.
"Everyone sees that the multinational people of the Russian Federation, the people of South Ossetia, and the peoples of all friendly countries, like brothers, like one family, support our guys, who today defend the unity and the values we speak of," the President said, wishing everyone peace and well
