S.Ossetians to Temporarily Close Checkpoints Marking War Anniversary

TSKHINVALI, South Ossetia – The Russian-backed rebel government of Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia announced Friday that it will close all of the checkpoints located near the contact line separating the area from other parts of Georgia in commemoration of the 2008 Russian-Georgian War.

According to the South Ossetian KGB, the pro-Moscow rebel authorities in the separatist capital Tskhinvali are going to temporarily close checkpoints from August 6-9.

The KGB said the closures were ordered to guarantee the security of citizens during events marking the eight-year anniversary of brief war between Russia and Georgia on August 8, 2008.

Georgian government forces fought three wars against Russian-backed separatist forces in Abkhazia and South Ossetia between 1991-2008.

The wars left thousands dead and led to the ethnic cleansing of a quarter of a million ethnic Georgians.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia were recognized as independent states by Moscow following the 2008 war.

International law and the United Nations continue to state that the regions remain parts of Georgia.

By Tamar Svanidze
Edited by Nicholas Waller

Photo: Ada Bagian/Sputnik