Q: Could you please comment on the situation around conditions of the arrival of Julietto Kieza, a famous Italian journalist and political figure, to the Republic of South Ossetia.
A: That’s right. Upon invitation from one of the political parties of the Republic, Mr. Kieza arrived to Tskhinval on January 23, 2017. Unfortunately, he faced certain problems while crossing the state border of the Republic of South Ossetia, as the receiving party had ignored the legal requirements pertaining to the entry procedures for foreign citizens arriving to the Republic of South Ossetia. The problem was solved rather fast, however the hosting party didn’t miss out the opportunity and tried to overblow a political scandal and shuffle off the responsibility for consequences of an incident that became a result of disrespect for the legislation of your own country to the MFA.
Nevertheless, Mr. Kieza, an old and loyal friend of South Ossetia, who enjoys our respect, is currently in Tskhinval, and we are always glad to see him here.
Definitely, we drew attention to coverage of circumstances of Mr. Kieza’s arrival in various media and in particular in a publication made on “Echo of the Caucasus” website, where at the instigation of the same political party the executive branch of the government of the Republic and to be more precise the MFA of South Ossetia, was accused of making regular obstacles to foreign citizens who try to enter the Republic.
It would be excessive to say that such a statement is absolutely absurd as interest of South Ossetia in strengthening the available opportunities of international cooperation and establishing new contacts at the international arena is doubtless, and the enduring work the MFA in this direction doesn't need confirmations. However, the author of the publication, who, by the way, at the same time ascribed Mauro Murgia, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia in Italy, who currently is in Rome, in fellow travelers to Mr.Kieza, isn’t confused at all neither by the incorrect information he is providing, nor by his own incompetence.
Other thing is surprising; in particular, if we call things by their proper names, it is a close informational collaboration of the parliamentary majority party with an Internet resource with anti-Ossetian and anti-Russian content which doesn't have accreditation in South Ossetia. It is enough to remind that journalists of this resource were actively used by outside forces in their attempts to aggravate as much as possible the political crisis in South Ossetia during the previous presidential elections.