Help Ossetia NOW

On Dec. 19, Association of South Ossetian Women for Democracy and Human Rights Founder and Chairwoman Lira Tskhovrebova delivered a letter to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Lira delivered the letter in-person outside the Georgian Embassy in Washington, D.C., along with a petition of support that has been signed by more than 100 representatives of over 30 Georgian NGOs (PDF). The letter and petition were left at the steps of the Embassy along with a single red rose.

Statement Delivered by Lira Tskhovrebova Outside the Embassy of Georgia, Washington, D.C.

Dec. 19, 2008

Hello. My name is Lira Tskhovrebova and I am the chairperson of the Association of South Ossetian Women for Democracy and Human Rights.

I have tried unsuccessfully for many months to meet with President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili.

After Georiga's attacks on our homes in August it is no longer possible for me to travel to Tbilisi. That is why I have to deliver a letter to Mikheil Saakashvili through the Ambassador of Georgia in the United States.

And I also attached to the letter a petition of Georgian human rights activists and Georgian NGO members in support of me and my peacebuilding activities.

My activities are building bridges between Georgians and Ossetians. Before I hand over the letter to the ambassador I want Anna [her interpreter] to read it out loud to you.

Text of Lira Tskhovrebova’s letter to Saakashvili:

December 19, 2008

President Mikheil Saakashvili
c/o Embassy of Georgia
2209 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C., 20008
United States of America

President Saakashvili,

I am delivering a copy of this letter today to the Embassy of Georgia in the United States.

As a private citizen who has made human rights and peace-building my life's work, I am writing to ask you to refrain from further military attacks against South Ossetia. I am asking you to publicly, and in good faith, renounce violence and finally commit yourself to pursuing peaceful means of conflict resolution with the people of South Ossetia.

Georgia's military shelled the sleeping civilians of Tskhinvali just hours after you went on TV promising to observe a cease-fire. The attack killed hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of lives -- Ossetian as well as Georgian.

I have just concluded a visit to the United States to meet with policymakers on Capitol Hill, human rights organizations and leading American media outlets. I shared the Ossetian perspective on the war, which was not heard during the fighting or in the months that followed. My group and I were received with compassion and respect. I asked that the United States do everything in its power to encourage you to renounce violence and commit to pursuing a peaceful way forward for the sake of our children and grandchildren.

Your government has leveled a vicious and false charge against me, calling me a spy. You cannot challenge the truthful and well-documented statements I've made about your decision to kill hundreds of civilians on Aug. 7, so you have instead chosen to smear me personally. You can call me whatever names you want, but you will not stop me from telling the truth.

Accompanying this letter is a statement of support for me that has been signed by more than 30 representatives of Georgian NGOs who are also involved in peace-building activities. I am humbled and honored by their support, and look forward to continuing our efforts to find common ground between people who have been divided far too long by conflict.

President Saakashvili, again I urge you to renounce violence and to commit yourself to finding a peaceful way forward for all the citizens of this region.

Lira Tskhovrebova
Founder and Chairwoman
Association of South Ossetian Women for Democracy and Human Rights

Read a statement by Lira Tskhovrebova in response to the Georgian government's attempt to smear her.

Help Ossetia Now

Donate now and help provide food, clothing and other emergency supplies to the thousands whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed during Georgia's unprovoked attack on South Ossetia.

Donate now so Lira Tskhovrebova and others in the NGO community can provide counseling and other assistance to the survivors of the August conflict.

After three days of shelling, Lira, a veteran human rights activist who had spent more than a decade trying to encourage dialogue between Georgians and Ossetians, emerged from hiding and was horrified to discover that the atrocities committed against her people were being ignored by the rest of the world.

The U.S. and its allies have pledged billions of dollars in unconditional aid to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose government launched the assault on Tskhinvali that left hundreds dead and thousands homeless. But none of that assistance is likely to reach the real victims of Georgia's attack, the people of South Ossetia.

With winter approaching, as many as 11,000 citizens of this war-ravaged region are considered in "acute need," lacking basic necessities and shelter from the cold.

Donate now and give South Ossetia a voice, and a future.

Click here to find out how to help the people of South Ossetia!