Over 600 soldiers of South Ossetia took part in a military parade in Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to mark the 69th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, ITAR-TASS reports.
South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov congratulated veterans and emphasized that South Ossetia "had achieved a historical victory over over Georgian Neo-Fascists."
The Tskhinvali Garrison, FSB Border Directorate of Russia in South Ossetia, soldiers of the 4th Russian military base, officers of OMON and the South Ossetian Border Service marched. Over 30 vehicles, including T-72 tanks and BM-21 multiple rocket launcher systemd, were seen at the parade.
Deputy Defense Minister Ibragim Gasseyev commanded the parade. Defense Minister Valery Yakhnovets reviewed the parade. A special concert will be organized.
Over 20,000 people, about a fifth of the South Ossetian population, went to fight in the Great Patriotic War, Over a thousand young people, including 56 women, volunteered to go for war. About 7,500 South Ossetian soldiers died in the war. 8 South Ossetians became Heroes of the Soviet Union, 5,500 received orders and medals.
