Commentary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of South Ossetia
On the situation in Ukraine
Situation in Ukraine, where in the result of a coup Kiev and many cities of Western Ukraine were taken over by armed radical extremists, is closely followed in South Ossetia. Activities of the extremists are getting more large scale and aggressive.
The situation evolved in such a way when all legal and constitutional norms were violated, a lot of distraction is taking place, monuments are demolished, anti-Russian slogans are cried out, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is passing resolutions that are limiting rights of language minorities and prohibiting unwanted political parties, gross interference into the ecclesiastical affairs and establishment of nazi dictatorship is observed. In my opinion the country is on a verge of economic and humanitarian catastrophe that will hurt the entire European continent.
It is not a secret that an important role in escalation of the tensions plaid the uncovered interference into internal affairs of sovereign Ukraine by some high rank Western and US officials. Their goal was to make out of Ukraine a place of geopolitical games and make every precondition for redivision of the regional borders.
This unrest raised discontent of predominantly Russian speaking population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Easter regions of Ukraine who did not want to have the same scenario in the places of their residence. People of South Ossetia understand what is happening in Ukraine more than anybody else. South Ossetia suffered consequences of Georgian nationalism in August 2008, supported by clearly fascist Ukrainian organizations such as UNA-UNSO.
It should be said that we express full solidarity with Russian Federation in support of the compatriots in Ukraine to prevent escalation and bloodshed.
I believe that people of Ukraine should make a decision on their fate themselves. We will closely follow the situation in Ukraine and call on all political powers to stop the violence, restore law, return the situation into constitutional and legal framework, resolve the situation by peaceful means without bloodshed.
Tskhinval, 5 March 2014