Second anniversary of Georgia-Russia war commemorated (Roundup)

Aug 8, 2010, 13:59 GMT

Tbilisi/Moscow - Georgian and South Ossetian leaders Sunday commemorated the second anniversary of the outbreak of the 2008 Georgia-Russia conflict, while Russian President Dmitry Medvedev paid a surprise visit to the breakaway Georgian province of Abkhazia.

In the Georgian city of Gori and in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, which also broke away from Tbilisi during the war, the inhabitants lit candles and laid flowers for the victims.

'Our struggle will continue until the last occupant leaves the Georgian land, until justice is restored to hundreds of thousands of our citizens of various ethnicities,' Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said in a video message, according to the website civil.ge.

Georgia lost control of South Ossetia and the region of Abkhazia during the five-day war, which cost hundreds of lives. Moscow has since recognized both regions as independent states and called Saakashvili a 'war monger.'

On an unscheduled visit to Sokhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, Medvedev defended Russian actions during the conflict.

'It was a painful experience, it was difficult, but time has proven that it was the right decision,' he said. He also announced Russian aid for reconstruction work.

Eduard Kokioty, president of the South Ossetia republic which is not internationally recognized, said in a speech, 'They say that time heals all wounds - but it will never soothe the pain in our hearts.'

An independent European committee concluded that Georgia sparked the war by attacking Tskhinvali overnight on August 8, 2008.

Medvedev claimed recently that numerous western leaders had approved Russia's actions during the war in personal talks.