Russian maestro Valery Gergiev to perform in South Ossetia

Russian conductor Valery Gergiev will give a major outdoor concert on Thursday in the capital of Georgia`s Moscow-backed rebel region of South Ossetia, Saint Petersburg authorities said. Gergiev, who is principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and general director of Saint Petersburg`s Mariinsky Theatre, will lead a concert in Tskhinvali, "in front of the South Ossetian parliament building destroyed by bombardments," Saint Petersburg city council said in a statement.Gergiev has family origins in South Ossetia and has spoken in support of Russia`s military assault on Georgia, arguing it was needed to avert further loss of life among the South Ossetian population.Tskhinvali has been preparing for a major public event on Thursday to demonstrate "support for South Ossetia," Russian officials in the region told AFP on Wednesday.

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