South Ossetia remembers victims of Georgian aggression

South Ossetia remembers victims of Georgian aggression

Hundreds of people gathered overnight for a mourning ceremony in downtown Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, on the second anniversary of Georgia's attack.
The "Living light of memory" mourning ceremony and a requiem concert began in Tskhinvali at 23:35 Moscow time [19:35 GMT] on Saturday, the time when Georgian troops fired first projectiles at the city. The ceremony will continue throughout the night, and is thought to be over at about 6:00 Moscow time [2:00 GMT] on Sunday.
"They say time is a great healer, but it will never soothe the pain in our hearts. On this day, our republic and our people came under fire from those who wanted to turn all southern part of South Ossetia into desert. We will never forget it. We did not start this war, but it's no comfort to those who lost their relatives and loved ones," South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity said.
"I ask mothers of Ossetia and Russia to forgive me for not saving the lives of your sons. We will do our best to assure that the victory, for which you've paid so dearly, is here to stay," he said.
More events are planned in South Ossetia throughout the day. The Museum of Burnt Souls will be inaugurated in the town of Khetagurovo, which sustained the most serious damage during the Georgian aggression.
At 14:00 Moscow time [11:00 GMT] flowers will be laid to the monuments of soldiers who died during the hostilities.
Long-standing tensions between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia turned violent during a five-day war in August 2008.
The war started in the early hours of August 8 when Georgia launch a military offensive against South Ossetia, where most residents are Russian passport holders. Russia reacted swiftly expelling Georgian troops from South Ossetia and forcing them deep into Georgia amid accusations on both sides of human right abuses.
South Ossetia says over 1,500 people perished during the conflict. Russian investigators confirmed deaths of 162 South Ossetians and 48 Russian servicemen, including ten peacekeepers.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, a total of 655 houses in were razed to the ground and over 2,000 partially collapsed in Tskhinvali as a result of the Georgian attack.
Two weeks after the end of the war, Russia recognized both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which both split from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The move was heavily criticized by Western powers. So far, only Venezuela, Nicaragua and the tiny island nation of Nauru have followed suit.

TSKHLINVALI, August 8 (RIA Novosti)