A memorial rally was held in Leningor District of South Ossetia to mark the 35th anniversary of the Tsinagar tragedy.
The memorial event was attended by South Ossetian President Alan Gagloev, Russia's Chargé d'Affaires in the Republic, Denis Fyodorov, representatives of the ministries and agencies, the public, and relatives of the victims.
The rally took place outside the village administration building, where a new memorial was erected. The granite slabs bear the names and portraits of natives of the villages of Gdulet and Tsinagar who fell victim to the Georgian aggression. The monument also commemorates the 14 residents of the Tsinagar zone who are still listed missing between 1989 and 2008. Addressing the gathering, Alan Gagloev emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory.
"A terrible tragedy occurred here 35 years ago. Seven peaceful residents of the village of Tsinagar simply wanted to live and work peacefully on their land, but they were killed simply because they were Ossetians. They say that history is our teacher, and we have no right to forget what happened to us, so that such horrors never happen again," the head of state has noted.
Gagloev also drew a parallel with modern events, noting the continuity of the fight against fascism.
"Today, our men are once again fighting Nazism in Ukraine as part of the special military operation. It is noteworthy that those who once tried to exterminate our people are also fighting on the enemy's side today," Gagloev said.
The President emphasized the significance of the new monument, created from local stone at the request of the village residents.
"Each of us owes a debt to those who defended their homeland with their lives, who simply wanted to live on their land. So many innocent Ossetians perished, but justice has always been on Ossetia's side. And today, Ossetians are fighting for justice, and may God grant them a speedy return to their homes," Gagloev has concluded.
Murtaz Valiev, the head of Leningor district, has noted that every year, residents not only of this village but of the entire Ossetia gather here to remember the names of the heroes.
"They died for the right to live in peace. Such events are necessary to make young people aware of the high cost of our independence. . May God grant that such tragedies never again darken our land," Valiev said.
Eldar Akhmedov, Member of Parliament for the Tsinagar district, expressed gratitude to Alan Gagloev for his personal assistance in the creation and installation of the memorial, noting that it had been a long-standing wish of local residents.
During the rally, local schoolchildren recited patriotic poems dedicated to the courage of the defenders of the Motherland. The participants observed a minute of silence in memory of the fallen and laid flowers at the memorial.
