19:28, 23 August 2004

Victims of clashes buried in South Osetia

Four people killed in clashes on the hills in the area of the Tliakan village were buried in South Osetia yesterday, August 22. Residents of Tskhinval bid farewell to two old men and their 15-year-old grandson. A morning meeting was also held in the village of Dzhava, where the funeral of Gennady Sanakoyev, a killed officer of the Dzhava district police department, was conducted. According to the Defense Ministry, altogether 15 people were on the hills that day, guarding the territory. Sanakoyev was wounded in the stomach and captured by advancing Georgian soldiers. Wounded Sanakoyev was tortured and killed, as reported by South Osetian authorities. Then Gennady's body was shown by all Georgian channels, the reports being accompanied by the text about 8 killed mercenary Cossacks. Bodies of the other 7 Cossacks have never been shown. Sanakoyev's body was brought from the Gori morgue in two days and given to his parents.

Author: Inga Kochiyeva, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot