Freedom is priceless for South Ossetia

South Ossetia repelled Georgia's proposal on "appropriation of funds for reconstruction of Tskhinval" as stated by RSO Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Medoev on March 3.

"The proposals of Saakashvili regime are absolutely dead-end", - RIA Novosti is quoting the ambassador. - Freedom and independence of South Ossetia are not for sale. Our people have paid a high price for their freedom and independence. And this price cannot be measured in terms of money". According to Medoev the Georgian leaders had many opportunities to help South Ossetia but Tbilisi took the initiative only following Russia's recognition of the republic.

Medoev's statement is a response to the proposals from Speaker of Georgian Parliament David Bakradze and Vice Speaker Mikhail Machavariani. Commenting on Moscow's intention to appropriate 1 billion 86 million rubles to Ossetia the latter boasted in his interview with Ekho Moskvy: "We have four billion dollars, this is much more than Russia is going to give, and if Russian troops are withdrawn from South Ossetia we are ready to spend part of this sum on reconstruction of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's infrastructure".

David Bakradze was even more straightforward. According to him there was a discord between Moscow and Tskhinval on the grounds of appropriation. "There is misapplication of all these funds as neither Russia nor de-facto authorities of South Ossetia are interested in this region or people that live there", - his words are quoted by Rosbalt. The only way to create living conditions in the republic is "restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity and assignment of an adequate status to this region within Georgia", Bakradze believes.

There is an impression the Georgian parliamentarians forgot about real August events and believed in their own propaganda. Otherwise their cynicism is simply inexplicable. It is a wonder there is no admission of mistakes or words of regret. Do they really believe that all distress, all blood and tears of that five-day war could be redeemed by money gifts?

By the way about the money. It is curious where Georgia (that now is in the deepest economic crisis) found four billion dollars mentioned above? As was reasonably remarked by Dmitry Medoev Georgia is a country of donations "with a zero level of economy". Apparently this is the money of Western sponsors official Tbilisi so greatly relies on.

It will be remembered that in the past Georgia repeatedly received tranches from Western countries and organizations for proper use in South Ossetia too.

As Dmitry Medoev asserts South Ossetia received nothing of the funds. Eventually all money was spent on the Georgian army equipment to be used for the attack on Tskhinval.

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