South Osetian public organizations protest against arrest of Alan Chochiev

On October 14, Doctor of Historical Science Alan Chochiev, a well-known political figure of South and North Osetia, was arrested in Vladikavkaz. We call your attention to some recent statements issued by different South Osetian public movements and parties.

The appeal of the Union of Combatants of the Republic of South Osetia to President of the Republic of South Osetia Eduard Kokoity

Dear Eduard Djabeevich!

On October 14, Alan Chochiev, the well-known scientist, political and public figure, was taken into custody in the town of Vladikavkaz. His "fault" is that he and his associates were going to hold an antifascist action. Such a reaction of the North Osetian authorities is more than strange, if to take into consideration thousands of victims among Osetian people who fought against fascism in 1941-1945 and in 1989-1992.

The Chibirovs' regime illegally kept him imprisoned, thereby abasing all the Osetian people. Is it possible that we will be forced to drink a cup of disgrace again?

When North Osetia was under deadly threat and the party elite dispersed, we were to take arms in our hands and defend our native land, deriving strength from Alan Chochiev's ideas. You yourself remember the events of the past years.

Dear Eduard Djabeevich! Many of our expectancies are concerned with your name. You will not go by such a crying abuse of human rights of the Man - the antifascist, scientist, and one of those who initiated the creation of the state of South Osetia.

We hope you will immediately partake in the cause of setting Alan Chochiev free, making a detailed investigation of the things happened, giving publicity to the facts present, and punishing the guilty.

Initiative group of the Union of Combatants of the Republic of South Osetia, October 22, 2003

The appeal of the People's Party of the Republic of South Osetia to the heads, parliaments and governments of OSCE Participating States, to the UN Secretary-General, to the UN Security Council, to the world community, to the heads of political parties, to the religious confessions and antifascist committees

The People's Party of the Republic of South Osetia expresses its concern about the arrest of the outstanding public figure and politician-antifascist Doctor of Historical Science Alan Rezoevich Chochiev in Vladikavkaz on October 14, 2003. All his "fault" is that he was about to hold the action "Antifascist Hunger-Strike" in front of the building of the North Osetian government. The action was planned for October 19, 2003 and was aimed at protesting against the fascist regime of Eduard Shevarnadze.

The purposeful disruption of this action on the eve of its holding makes one surmise that the arrest of Chochiev and accusations against him come directly from official Tbilisi, and in this case it is absolutely incomprehensible for us what the connection is between the leadership of the Republic of North Osetia - Alania, which is a part of the democratic, independent state of the Russian Federation, and the fascist regime of Shevarnadze. It is not a secret for anyone that Shevarnadze came to power due to democratic reforms directed against the fascist regime of Zviad Gamsakhurdia. It is know that the people of Georgia had waited for these reforms for a long time. Shevarnadze publicly charged Gamsakhurdia with fascism and kindling of international strife, and the Georgian Prosecutor General's Office imputed the genocide of the Osetian people to him. However, the fascist line of Tbilisi as such has not changed after Eduard Shevarnadze's coming. The fact that the memory of Zviad Gamsakhurdia is being immortalized and no one in the world raises the alarm is emphatic evidence of it! It is just the same as if the memory of Adolf Hitler had been immortalized in Germany, isn't it? Besides, Georgia has not undergone post-fascist readjustment.

We do not understand a stance of the world community, which looks at the fascist regime of Shevarnadze not in the view of common international law standards. Is it possible that mankind has forgotten the lessons of the Second World War, when tens of millions of people gave their lives as a sacrifice in the fight against fascism? Thereby the results of the Nuremberg process, which denounced fascism in whatever forms, are prejudiced, aren't they? Or is a double standard used, perhaps, in cases of small nations?

The People's Party of South Osetia informs all fighters against fascism that this action - "the arrest of Alan Chochiev" - is directed not against the specific man, but against all the mankind.

Our request to all those who are not indifferent to the ideas of antifascism is to render assistance in setting Alan Chochiev free and exposing the fascist regime in Georgia.

Chairman of the People's Party of the Republic of South Osetia R. L. Koleskhayev

The appeal of the Union of World War II and Labor Veterans to President of the Republic of South Osetia Eduard Kokoity, President of the Republic of North Osetia - Alania Aleksandr Dzasokhov, Chairman of "Alanty Nikhas" of the Republic of North Osetia - Alania Mikhail Gioyev, Chairman of "Alanty Nikhas" of the Republic of South Osetia Robert Gagloyev, and Interior Minister of the Republic of North Osetia - Alania Kazbek Dzntiyev

The Union of World War II and Labor Veterans of Tskhinval asks to admit Alan Chochiev as a delegate to the All-Osetian Congress, "Alanty Nikhas", on behalf of the aforesaid organization.

We understand that the procedure and mechanisms of the election of deputies are not kept, but nevertheless, our decision is unanimous. We believe our great age has deserved the hope that the exception to the rule will be made.

(The document is signed by 64 people)