Troops March in Tskhinvali Marking ‘Independence’

A military parade is being held in breakaway South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on September 20 to mark the unrecognized republic’s 15th anniversary of de facto secession from Georgia.

“This military parade is a central event to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the South Ossetian Republic. The Republic demonstrates its readiness to repel any aggression… Genocide of Ossetians by the Georgian people has taught Ossetians to be watchful,” a statement issued by the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reads.

Delegations from Russia, Abkhazia, Transdnestria and Nagorno-Karabakh are participating in the events, marking ‘independence day,’ the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reports.

Meanwhile, Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava has protested against the deployment of, as he put it, extra troops and military hardware in the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali.

In a statement issued on September 19, Giorgi Khaindrava said that by deploying troops in Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian side has violated agreements on demilitarization of the conflict zone.