President Margvelashvili visits border village near Tskhinvali

Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili has brought New Year gifts to Knolevi, the village near the administrative border of Georgia and its Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) today.

The President talked about the historical connection and unity of the Georgians and Ossetians when he visited a local family of a Georgian husband and Ossetian wife in Knolevi.

Margvelashvili called all members of such mixed families "heroes” and thanked them for "strengthening the border in very difficult conditions”.

The President also commented on the free trade process between the Russian Federation and Georgia’s another breakaway region – Abkhazia. He also talked about the draft treaty set to be signed between Russia and the Tskhinvali region by the end of January.

"The draft treaty set to be signed between Russia and the Tskhinvali region is hopeless,” the President said.

"Abkhazians and Ossetians do not have any prospects for development without the Georgian people. I hope that they will continue to move forward together with their Georgian brothers.”

Margvelashvili also visited the military base of Georgian soldiers in the troubled village and wished a happy New Year to them.

Meanwhile, all 35 children of the Knolevi village received bags of candies, while all seven local residents from the age of 15 to 18 were given personal computers from the President.