Veterans of World War II meet on Russian-Georgian border

On May 8, on the eve of the 67^th anniversary of Victory in the World War II, in the area of the state border between Russia and Georgia, near a long-term fire point, a meeting of veterans was held. Georgian veterans, who were invited to the event, did not come to the meeting, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

At the area of the Russian-Georgian border, veterans laid flowers at the memorial stone, which was erected to honour of the 60^th anniversary of Victory in Defence of the Caucasus. Apart from the veterans, the event gathered representatives of the Armenian, Russian and Georgian NGOs.

"We have done much to invite guests. We sent letters to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), to the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, to the head of border detachment of the Kazbegi District, and to the chief of the check point with an appeal to help veterans to go. Buses were prepared for them. Many people wish to come; however, they face political barriers," said Akhsarbek Tsopanov, the head of the veteran organization of the border troops of North Ossetia.

He spent much of his service in Georgia at various positions; the veteran walked along the entire Transcaucasia. According to him, members of their organization actively communicate with their comrades-in-arms; they write letters and congratulate each other on phones.

According to Akhsarbek Tsopanov, "the overall contribution to the victory, the common military history should also in our days unite and not divide participants of the war."

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that, starting from May 5, the delegation of veterans from North Ossetia visited Tbilisi at the invitation of the Georgian side. On May 7, they returned from their trip, of which the war veteran Alexei Buchukuri spoke during the meeting held on May 8 at the border of two countries.

Alexei Buchukuri was 18 years old, when he went to the front. So far, he considers his frontline medal "For Courage" to be the most honourable of his awards. Remembering the events of the war years, he said that in 1942, on that road their division was transferred from Gori to Vladikavkaz, when the Nazis attacked the city. The division stood on the Georgian Military Highway till the latest fighting.

Robert Tsendeliani, Chairman of the Georgian National Society of North Ossetia "Ertoba", hopes that next year, veterans of Georgia and South Ossetia will attend the meeting.