Zanur Gassiev, a conspicuous statesman of the Republic of South Ossetia, passed away March 6, 2016 in his 91st year.

A grand statesman, wise politician and patriot, he was sincere when dedicated all his life to the interests of his people. Each person in South Ossetia and abroad who knew him would remember Znaur Nikolaevich as a man of marked individuality with long life experience, who had always been friendly and openhearted.

The second session of the Expert Council affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia took place on 3 March 2016. Experts from North Ossetia –Alania - Valerij Dzhidzhoev and Ruslan Bzarov - Professors, Doctors of History, and Petr Khoziev participated in the session.

Current agenda in general, and Presidential Initiatives to conduct a referendum on joining the Republic of South Ossetia with the Russian Federation and a referendum on renaming the Republic of South Ossetia, was discussed. Moreover the participants unanimously supported the idea expressed by the Ministry to establish a Terminological Committee on the Ossetian language and adopted a joint statement.

Murat Dzhioev, the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia on post-conflict settlement, heading South Ossetian mission, hosted a meeting with the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions representing the EU, the OSCE and the UN, who arrived to Tskhinval on March 2 in anticipation of the coming 35th round of the Discussions.

Issues related to the agenda of the round scheduled for March 22-23 were discussed at the meeting.

Competitive exam to Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia on February 24-25.

The competitions took place in accordance with the Charter on “Competitive exams for quotas to Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia”.

Under the President Decrees dated 29 February 2016 Daniel I. Tibilov was released from the post of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Ossetia in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the post of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Ossetia in the Republic of Nicaragua.

Alan Kochiev, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia, and officers of the Ministry participated in solemn commemoration of the Day of the Defenders and laid flowers to the monument to Ossetian defenders at the Cathedral Square.

Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, South Ossetia Foreign Minister, hosted a meeting with Murat Dzhioev, the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia on post-conflict settlement, David Sanakoev, the State Councellor of the President, and Inal Tasoev, Presidential Human Rights Ombudsman on February 4, 2016.

The Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) approved the request submitted by the Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to conduct an investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity “committed in and around South Ossetia” that would cover period from July 1 to October 10, 2008 on January 27.