Peace in times of conflict

Since August 2008, the region witnessed tension and clashes on the brink of war between Georgia and South Ossetia. Despite numerous peace efforts, the ethnopolitical conflict in South Ossetia, which began in 1989, remained unresolved.

Trauma relief to military, peacekeepers, civilians

Against this backdrop, The Art of Living stepped in to bring solace to people traumatized by the conflict. A team of volunteers from Russia, including doctors and psychologists, worked round-the-clock in Tskhinvali from August 20, 2008.

Nearly 1,500 people benefited from the trauma relief sessions, which included breathing techniques and meditation. Over 200 Russian military soldiers, 80 Russian peacekeepers, and 200 South Ossetian peacekeepers, directly in the line of firing attended the sessions. Around 1,000 people including civilians, teachers, school children, doctors, journalists, and staff of the Presidential administration also experienced benefits from The Art of Living’s interventions.

Volunteering continued in spite of the war

Despite the fierce fighting between Russian forces and South Ossetian separatists on one side and Georgian forces on the other, the volunteers stayed put and attended to people from all walks of life. The effort was hailed and supported by the Minister of Health Care, South Ossetia and the Presidential administration.