T G, 70 years old, Zardiantkari
‘When they started setting houses on fire, and burned down my cousins’ houses, we were forced to run away. We were afraid that they would burn us all. So we ran.’
Voice from the Georgian–South Ossetian conflict | ‘I am not convinced, even now, that everything is over’
M K, 37 years old, Tskhinval
‘My Soviet childhood was very happy. I thought that my whole life would be like a fairy tale. But the fairy tale ended abruptly.’
Interview | ‘My reconciliation policy is not about just getting territories back. It’s about people’
Ketevan Tsikhelashvili serves as Georgia’s Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality (smr.gov.ge)
Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has served as Georgia’s State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, responsible for coordinating the country’s conflict resolution policy, since 2016. Tsikhelashvili sat down with OC Media to discuss the ministry’s successes and failures, her new peace initiative, and the barriers to and prospects for peace.
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to visit South Ossetia
Anatoly Bibilov giving a Caucasian sabre to Bashar al-Assad on 23 July in Damascus (mfa-rso.su)
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has accepted an invitation to visit Tskhinvali (Tskhinval), South Ossetian president Anatoly Bibilov announced in a Monday press conference. The Georgian government condemned the announcement, calling it a ‘gross violation of international norms’.
Georgian autopsy says Tatunashvili sustained over 100 injuries before dying
Archil Tatunashvili (RFL/RL)
An autopsy on the remains of Archil Tatunashvili, a Georgian citizen who died in South Ossetian custody in February, says that he suffered over 100 separate injuries before dying. South Ossetia claims that Tatunashvili, whose remains were transferred to Tbilisi almost three months ago, died after falling down a flight of stairs while trying to escape. [Read more…]
South Ossetia’s youth are striving for opportunities at home and abroad
Graffiti on the art space building in old Tskhinval (Gana Yanovskaya /OC Media)
Enterprising young people in South Ossetia have lots of ideas for improving their homeland but the challenges are many. Few opportunities to develop a career at home, even fewer opportunities to travel abroad, a lack of cultural and recreational facilities, and a dearth of funding for youth initiatives mean the obstacles can seem insurmountable. Nevertheless, many are willing to try.
Voice from the Georgian–South Ossetian conflict | ‘What has always been and will always be is the hatred towards armed people on the other side’
A D, 34 years old, Tskhinval
‘It was in November 1989. I was seven. I remember it was a gloomy day. The whole town was alert. I was little and could not understand anything. What I would hear was that some Georgians came shooting. And then everything started spinning: a blockade began, we would hear that they burnt a village and then another, kidnapped some people and shot some others. Barricades started popping in the town and cross-shootings followed.’
South Ossetia hands over body of Georgian citizen 26 days after his death in custody
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) transferred the remains of Archil Tatunashvili. Ergneti, 20.03.2018 (Radio Tavisupleba)
South Ossetia has handed over the body of Archil Tatunashvili, a former Georgian soldier who died in prison in South Ossetia ‘in unclear circumstances’, to the Georgian authorities, 26 days after his death. [Read more…]
Georgian PM under fire after call for ‘direct dialogue with Abkhazians and Ossetians’
The Enguri (Ingur) Bridge, which leads to the Abkhazian border crossing (Nino Gogua/ OC Media)
The Georgian PM’s statement last Friday calling for ‘direct dialogue with the Abkhazians and the Ossetians’ and improving relations with Russia has come under fire from opposition parties. The EU’s Ambassador to Georgia said PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili’s statement ‘argues for sensible steps’ while Russia said it was ‘satisfied’ with the statement. [Read more…]
Two detained in South Ossetia allowed to return to Tbilisi-controlled territory
The pair talk with Georgian officials after being allowed to leave South Ossetia (Georgia’s State Ministry of Reconciliation)
Two Georgian citizens being held in South Ossetia have been allowed to return to Tbilisi-controlled territory. Levan Kutashvili and Ioseb Pavliashvili were detained along with former Georgian soldier Archil Tatunashvili, who died in custody in Tskhinvali (Tskhinval) ‘in unclear circumstances’. South Ossetian authorities have refused to release Tatunashvili’s body. [Read more…]
