South Ossetia celebrates Independence Day

On the day of the recognition of the South Ossetia's independence, a solemn meeting, an exhibition of paintings, a tasting of national cuisine, and a concert took place in the republic. The recognition of the South Ossetia's independence gave a sense of security to local residents, political analysts note.

Residents of the republic spoke about their impressions of the holiday.

"This is a very important holiday for us. When Russia recognized our statehood in 2008, it began to mean complete security for us," said Zaira Kozaeva, a resident of the village of Bekmar in the Znaur District.

Merab Tskhovrebov, a farmer from the Dzau District, also said he was pleased to appreciate the Independence Day of South Ossetia. "But when we remember how much we paid for the recognition of our republic, how many of our guys were killed, we realize all the sadness," the man said.

Russia guarantees security to residents of South Ossetia, and after the recognition of the republic's independence, the quality of life of its residents increased significantly. However, some of the social and economic problems have not been resolved yet, notes political analyst Vadim Mukhanov.

"In South Ossetia, people live not worse than in Georgia, if we do not speak of Tbilisi," added political analyst Nikolai Silaev.