Pertaining to the 10th Anniversary of Recognition of the Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation
Large scale solemnities, dedicated to the 10th Anniversary of Recognition of the Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation will be held on August 26. This date is entered by gold letters in the historical chronicle of the Ossetian people.
Ten years ago Dmitrii Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation, signed the historical Decree on the Recognition of the Republic of South Ossetia, and the Republic of South Ossetia became the full-fledged subject of international law.
The Republic of South Ossetia has passed a difficult route to its independence and international recognition. Since declaration of its own independence the course towards destruction of the Ossetian national element became the Georgian state policy, while armed suppression of any attempts of the South Ossetian people to ethnic self-identification and political self-determination became the course that Georgian leaders choose.
Only throughout one century South Ossetia fell under several ethnic cleanings and genocide. As a result of genocides of the Ossetian people in 1920, 1989-1992, the military invasion in 2004 and, finally, the Georgian-Ossetian war in August 2008, the people of South Ossetia went through all circles of hell.
It is enough to tell that if by 1918 the Ossetian population in Northern and Southern parts of Ossetia was approximately equal, then by 1988, owing to the policy pursued by the Georgian authorities, the number of Ossetians in North Ossetia had already exceeded seven times that in South Ossetia. Things were going from bad to worse.
The decision on recognition of the independence of South Ossetia by Russia has been dictated by the entire course of events, which had been developing around our country since 1989, when South Ossetia settled down to the course of struggle for the independence and upholding the right of its people for life. This historical event happened at the stage, when actions of Georgia, which had committed another, the bloodiest aggression against South Ossetia in August 2008, left Russia no choice except for direct armed intervention, aimed at protection of its citizens and salvation of the people of South Ossetia of physical extermination.
Recognition of the independence marked the beginning of a new stage in development of South Ossetia. Today our safety is guaranteed by Russia, and this is the most invaluable achievement of the people of South Ossetia over the last decade. The country moves steadily on its way of social and economic progress, creating the modern constitutional democratic state.
Undoubtedly, the events of August 2008, which have laid the foundation for return of Russia to the geopolitical space of Transcaucasia, have a huge value for Russia itself.
Recognition of the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation has laid the foundation for the international recognition of South Ossetia. We are grateful to all states which have recognized the independence of South Ossetia after Russia, and are convinced that continuation of the process of recognition would promote further peace and security consolidation in the region.
August 24, 2018, Tskhinval