The new authorities in Georgia’s pro-Russian separatist region of South Ossetia announced on Monday that they are abandoning the organization of a referendum on its integration into Russia.
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In a decree, “Chairman” Alan Gaglov invoked “the uncertainty associated with the legal consequences” of such consultations, which were decided by his predecessor, Anatoly Bibilov, and which were scheduled for July 17.
He stressed “the inadmissibility of a unilateral decision by referendum on issues relating to the rights and legitimate interests of the Russian Federation.”
However, Mr. Gaglev called for “consultations without delay with the Russian side on all issues related to further integration of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation”.
On May 13, the South Ossetian authorities announced the signing of a decree by Mr. Bibilov on holding a referendum, evoking the “historical aspiration” of the population of this small Caucasian region to join Russia, which borders it.
“We are going home,” Mr. Bibilov commented, adding that “it is time to unite once and for all.” “South Ossetia and Russia will be together. This is the beginning of a wonderful new story,” he said.
But Bibilov failed to be re-elected as president earlier this month. Russia had hoped that his successor, Alan Gaglov, would be able to ensure the “continuity” of relations with Moscow.
At the heart of the 2008 conflict
South Ossetia was at the center of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, after which the Kremlin recognized its independence as well as that of another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia, and set up military bases there.
“President” Gaglev Announcement Comes In 96e The day the Russian army invaded Ukraine, the leaders of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, whose independence was also recognized by Moscow, expressed interest in integration into Russia.
Georgia, where the Russian offensive against Ukraine triggered a wave of solidarity, considers the prospect of South Ossetia joining Russia unacceptable.
In August 2008, Russia attacked Georgia, whose government was fighting pro-Russian militias in that region, after bombing Georgian villages.
The fighting ended five days later with a ceasefire brokered by the European Union. But they killed more than 700 people and displaced tens of thousands of Georgians.
In March, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Karim Khan, called for arrest warrants to be issued against three current and former South Ossetian officials, in connection with war crimes committed against ethnic Georgians.
The offenses accused of committing include torture, unlawful detention, hostage-taking and deportation of persons.
Last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia was responsible for human rights violations after the war.
