Celebrating South Ossetia's Independence

September 20, 2009

Tskhinval, South Ossetia -- The people of South Ossetia celebrated their defeat of Georgia and the independence of their country today with a military parade and a speech by President Eduard Kokoity.

The president told the crowd that the "Day of the Republic" festivities marked the time when "South Ossetia took a decisive step towards a new life, the beginning of which was heralded by a series of dramatic, tragic, and heroic events and accomplishments."

Delegations from Transnistria, Northern Ossetia-Alania, Abkhazia, Nagorny Karabakh, Nicaragua and Russia attended the event. Representatives of Tatarstan and Adygea, among others, sent their greetings.

President Kokoity presented an award to Andrey Tsapliyenko, the Unkainian "Inter" TV channel journalist, for his balanced reporting of the events of August, 2008 and for the key role he played in getting information to the outside world about Georgia's unprovoked attack on the people of Tskhinval.

Other officials and speakers emphasized the progress that South Ossetia had made and the devotion of the Ossetian people, who were motivated by their love of their homeland.