Georgian Reconciliation Minister: Opening of Russian school in Tskhinvali should be signal for Ossetians

Georgian Reconciliation Minister Ketevan Tsikhelashvili says that the opening of a Russian school in Georgia’s eastern occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region should be a signal to Ossetians living in the region.

The opening of the school in the Akhalgori area of the occupied Tskhinvali  region is an example of Russian illegal actions, which reveals the real goals of Russia.  Not only for the ethnic Georgians, but also for the local Ossetians the school should be a clear signal about Russia’s policy and goals,” Tsikhelashvili said.

Tsikhelashvili said  that the restriction of receiving an education in one’s mother tongue, which Russia does in Georgia’s occupied territories, is one of the “gravest human rights violations.”
 
She says that the local Georgian population is even restricted to speak openly in Georgian.
 
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani evaluated the opening of the Russian school as the “continuation of the Russian occupation” and an attempt by Russia to “fully annex historic Georgian lands.”
 
The school financed by Russia was festively opened in Akhalgori today with the presence of Russian politicians and the representatives of the de-facto government of Tskhinvali.
 
67 kilometers separate Tbilisi from Akhalgori.