Disputed South Ossetia Plans to Join Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with Leonid Tibilov, President of the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia, at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, March 31, 2016. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool photo via AP)

South Ossetia, the breakaway region of Georgia, will hold a referendum to join Russia.

Leonid Tibilov, the head of the breakaway region, told TASS Agency in an interview, “We plan to hold a referendum on supplementing that article with paragraphs stating that the Republic of South Ossetia is entitled to hand part of its powers to the Russian Federation; we are already discussing the terms. But I can’t voice the particular date. This will happen in the near future; we are planning for August,” he said. “And then what I have already outlined to give the president the opportunity to ask the Russian leadership to incorporate our republic as a new constituent member of Russia,” TASS reported.

Tibilov added that they required Russian experts to start mine clearing in South Ossetia, to create sustainable military relations with Russia and they expect Gazprom to gasify villages. “I think that Gazprom’s leadership will soon receive a corresponding order and signal from Russia’s highest leadership,” he said.

Reaction from Georgia

State Ministry for Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia strongly condemned the referendum decision of South Ossetia. Minister Davit Bakradze said, “This is a violation of all international norms and standards. This is disregard of international law and it will have no legal force,” InterPressNews reported.

South Ossetia is a breakaway region of Georgia. Five-day war occurred in 2008 between Georgia and Russia over the territory. The region is recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and some Pacific island states.