Assembly in Tskhinvali Calls on Russia to Recognize S.Ossetia

The sixth All-Ossetian Assembly in Tskhinvali has called on the Russian leadership to recognize breakaway South Ossetia?s independence.

?On behalf of the people of [Russia?s] North Ossetia and South Ossetia, the Assembly requests that you consider recognising South Ossetia?s independence,? the statement adopted by the Assembly reads.

The statement provides a long overview of Tskhinvali?s vision of history, alleging that Georgia had always tried in the past couple of centuries to oppress ethnic Ossetians.

In a separate statement, the Assembly condemned the Tbilisi-backed South Ossetian provisional administration, led by Dimitri Sanakoev, calling it ?a puppet government.?

The Assembly brought together on September 18-19 about 500 ethnic Ossetians from at least 11 countries, according to the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee. The leader of Russia?s North Ossetian Republic, Teimuraz Mamsurov, joined the participants in Tskhinvali on September 19.

The assembly is a high-profile event for the South Ossetian secessionist authorities, as it has been used to demonstrate what they call broad-based support among ethnic Ossetians.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)