Bullet-riddled works of art from a South Ossetian art gallery, damaged by Georgian forces during the five-day war in August of last year, will form an exhibition to be held in seven Russian cities.

That is according to a spokesperson of the South Ossetian Ministry of Culture.

The exposition, entitled “Bullet ridden pictures,” consists of 33 works of South Ossetian painters that were on display in the Arvaron (“Sky belt”) art gallery in Tskhinval on the day the Georgian army began its assault on South Ossetia.

“Witnesses told us that a Georgian tank fired at the concert hall building, which was hosting the Arvaron gallery on the first floor. Then, Georgian soldiers entered the building and damaged the exposition by shooting at it point-blank,” said an official of the South Ossetian Culture Ministry, Julietta Tskhovrebova.

After the war ended, employees of the gallery found several shredded pictures among the debris, which included sculptures, pottery and antiques. The decision was made to organize a special exposition to be shown throughout Russia as living proof of Georgian aggression in South Ossetia.

The exposition has already visited Saratov, Murmansk and Novgorod and some other cities. In every town where the exhibition has been held, local painters have contributed their works to a future art gallery that will be built in Tskhinval.