;div =5182>

19 September 2008, 16:13

The cultural objects of South Ossetia damaged in the conflict include two
churches and a synagogue

Moscow, September 19, Interfax – Two churches and a synagogue are included
in the list of 11 objects of cultural heritage of South Ossetia, which have
documented destructions from the Georgian army aggression on August 8-12,
2008.

During the battle action the shell hit ruined the southern wall and corner
of the church located not far away from the village of Nizhny Tbet; the area
of destroyed space is about five meters. The church was built in the late
Middle Ages, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports Friday.

Service premises of the Tskhinvali Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
(the former Armenian Church), built in 1718, were destroyed during a massive
fire of the city by the Georgian army.

The ancient synagogue located in Tskhinvali also has significant damages.
The building requires essential repairs and restoration.
Besides, the Georgian army ruined several graves and tombstones at the
memorial cemetery of defenders and civilians who died during the aggression
of 1990s and damaged the local chapel.

"An irreparable damage has been inflicted on the original human environment
of South Ossetia people. Thereby Georgian authorities have materially
violated such basic internationally accepted acts as the Hague Convention
for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,
1954, the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage, 1972, and UNESCO Declaration concerning the Intentional
Destruction of Cultural Heritage, 2003," Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Alexander Yakovenko said.