APPEAL OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH OSSETIA TO THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The developments around South Ossetia over the last two days may emerge the new hot-bad of armed conflict. The actions of Georgian authorities may entail unpredictable consequences as they heat the tension and commit the dangerous political provocations.

Detachment of armed forces and heavy equipment along the border of the Republic of South Ossetia under the pretext of anti-smuggling campaign, attempt to carry out against this background “peaceful, humanitarian acts” and the aggressive statements made by the high authorities of Georgia towards the South Ossetia represent the forms of political, military and economic pressure on South Ossetia, as well as the breach of agreements achieved in the course of negotiations. They run counter to the assurances of Georgian authorities regarding the peaceful regulation of the conflict.

Not once the South Ossetia has become the subject of Georgia’s aggression. The barefaced attacks to the complete annihilation of the People of South Ossetia were committed in 1989-1992. In those circumstances our people, defending their right to existence and freedom and based on the Union legislation valid by that time, announced the independence of South Ossetia.

In 1992 the Russian Federation strongly condemned the genocide committed by Georgia against our people and achieved the cease-fire on the South Ossetian earth. However, the further developments have showed that Georgia still continues its policy against South Ossetia even after the end of war. Having recognized even its fault in unleashing the war against South Ossetian People Georgia did not make any practical steps for compensating the damage and did nothing for improving the grave situation of people. More than 12 years South Ossetia is experiencing physical independence from Georgia and exists based on its own capacity and Russia’s assistance.

Historical experience approved the credibility of the choice of Ossetian people, who voluntarily joined Russia in 1774. Being the part of the unified Ossetian nation, separated with the state border after dissolution of the USSR, southern Ossetians consider themselves as the citizens of Russia. The vast majority of the population of South Ossetia is the citizen of the Russian Federation. The Russian language, together with the Ossetian one, is the official state language in South Ossetia. South Ossetia considers itself as a part of Russian culture and Russian national space. The people of South Ossetia believe that the Russian Federation is the only guarantor of their security. The leadership of the Republic of South Ossetia enjoys the full support of its people in the process of establishing the closest ties with the Russian Federation.

Nevertheless, Tbilisi officials often voice the violent statements on forcible return of South Ossetia under the jurisdiction of Georgia. They do not take into account the very fact that the process of regulation of Georgian-Ossetian relations is carried out through the mediation of the Russian federation and the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania. Therefore, it may not be considered as a “domestic affair of Georgia”.

Given the real threat of a new aggression against South Ossetia from the Georgian side, based on historical ties with Russia and on the will of people expressed at the Referendum in January 1992, the parliament of the Republic of South Ossetia submits its appeal to the State Duma of the Russian federation and asks for recognizing the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia and taking steps for protecting Russian citizens residing in South Ossetia.

Tskhinval, 5 June 2004

(Conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Documents 1989-2006 (Supplement to “Kavkazskie Sborniki”, edition #1). Collected and commented by M. A. Volkhonski, B. A. Zakharov, N. Y. Silaev. – Moscow, 2008, p. 225-226/in Russian)