In a decree issued on Monday, Alan Gagloev, “President” of South Ossetia, drew attention to the “uncertainty associated with the legal consequences” of the draft referendum that his predecessor Anatoly Bibilov had decided to organize on July 17.
He indicated that additional talks would take place between the breakaway republic and Russia on “further integration”.
The decree also highlighted “the inadmissibility of taking a decision unilaterally by holding a referendum on issues related to the rights and legitimate interests of the Russian Federation.”
But Gagloev called for “consultations to be held without delay with the Russian side on all issues related to further integration between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation.”
On May 13, the South Ossetian authorities announced that Bibilov had issued a decree to hold a referendum on joining the Russian Federation in response to the “historical aspirations” of the population of this small region located in the Caucasus and bordering Russia.
At the time, Bibilov said on Telegram, “We are coming home… It’s time to unite once and for all. South Ossetia and Russia will be together. This is the beginning of a great new story.”
But Bibilov failed to win a new term in the “presidential” elections that took place earlier this month. Russia had expressed its hope that his successor, Gagloev, would provide “continuity” in relations with Moscow.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia are two Georgian republics that unilaterally declared their separation from Tbilisi. Russia recognized their independence in August 2008 after a lightning war between Tbilisi and Moscow.
Since this conflict, Russian forces are permanently stationed in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Gagloev’s decision came on the 91st day of the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow said was aimed at helping Lugansk and Donetsk, the two breakaway regions loyal to it in the east of this country and whose independence the Kremlin has recognized.
These two regions, in turn, expressed interest in joining Russia.
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