Georgian breakaway region and partially recognized republic, South Ossetia, will soon be taking legal steps in an attempt to join the Russian Federation after similar aspirations from Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, its president, Anatoly Bibilov, has announced in a video address on Wednesday,
Announcing they’ll take appropriate legal steps in the near future, Bibilov pointed out that the republic’s strategic goal is unification with its historical homeland Russia.
He went on to insist that the Ossetian people, mainly divided between South Ossetia and the Russian Republic of North Ossetia, should not ‘miss the opportunity’ to unite.
Most of the world – all but five UN Member States – officially regards the republic, which is located in the South Caucasus, as part of Georgia although Tbilisi hasn’t held control since the Soviet collapse in 1991 when the republic fought a brutal war with Georgia.
Following the 2008 military conflict between Russia and Georgia, provoked by Tbilisi’s forces shelling the region where Russian peacekeepers were stationed, South Ossetia was recognized by Russia as an independent republic.
Presidential press secretary Dina Gassieva noted that necessary legal procedures for South Ossetia to join Russia will be finished around April 10 to coincide with the South Ossetian presidential elections.
Pointing out that there are no legal obstacles for South Ossetia to join the Russian Federation, South Ossetia parliament Speaker Alan Tadtaev said that the republic is set to hold a public referendum on the issue.
However, Russia has so far been hesitant to endorse the annexation of South Ossetia, and there have so far been no strong indications that Kremlin is serious about the idea.
Russian legislation mandates foreign states or parts of other states to support the idea to be admitted as subjects of the Russian Federation by formally holding a referendum.
The same was reiterated by Andrei Klimov, the ruling United Russia party’s international cooperation commission deputy head, who said that occupied Tskhinvali, the term they use for the republic, should hold a referendum to unite with Russia.
Klimov also serves as Deputy Chair of Russia’s Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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