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The world must know the truth: Tskhinval is new Stalingrad - Valery Gergiev

A Requiem Concert in Tskhinval with Maestro Valery Gergiev, a True Son of the Ossetian People.

The world must know the truth: Tskhinval is new Stalingrad - Gergiyev

TSKHINVAL (Interfax) - Those who ordered an attack on South Ossetia hoped to escape punishment but they were wrong, the renowned conductor of the Mariinsky Theater orchestra Valery Gergiyev told some five thousand people who came to his outdoor concert in the central square in Tskhinval on Thursday evening. The concert began at 8:00 p.m. local time.

"We are here today to express our admiration for you, to tell the whole world that we want it know the truth about the horrible events in Tskhinval".

"You have suffered terrible bombings - direct annihilating fire on a sleeping city. The aggressors did this on the very eve of the Olympic Games, the biggest event for the whole of mankind, which is traditionally associated with peace across the globe," Gergiyev said."I want to stress once again: had it not been for great Russia's help, there would have been many more casualties among the Ossetian people," he said. "After the Beslan tragedy, the death of another 2,000 people is a terrible loss. I hope we will never go through such horrific trials again," Gergiev went on. "Those who hoped that their actions would pass unnoticed and unpunished proved wrong. More and more people in the world are learning the truth," he said.

"I think we may call Tskhinval a hero city. What I saw today is another Stalingrad - total destruction," Gergiyev said.

"But believe me, an enormous country and all honest people of the world are behind you. Tskhinval will be restored. New generations will come, and I hope they will see peace and prosperity on this land," he added.

The concert took place before the ruined building of the South Ossetian Parliament. The Mariisnky orchestra performed Dmitry Shostakovich's Seventh (Leningrad) Symphony and Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony. Many people were holding candles in their hands.

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