In brief
South Ossetia calls referendum on unification with Russia on 17 June
Kremlin avoids clear support for vote
The announcement justifies the decision by the “historical desire of the people of the Republic of South Ossetia to reunify with Russia.” The question on the ballot will be: “Do you support the unification of the Republic of South Ossetia and Russia?”.
But the new South Ossetian president, Alan Gagloev, who will take over from Bibilov on 24 May, is not that sure that the referendum will take place. Although he has been in favour of union with Russia, Gagloev believes that both the mechanism and timing must be coordinated with Moscow, as South Ossetia cannot act alone on this issue.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin points out that the 17 June referendum only concerns South Ossetia and that in any case the Russian government will be attentive before taking any decisions.
South Ossetia proclaimed independence from Georgia in 1991. Russia recognised it in 2008. Most of the Ossetian people live in North Ossetia, a republic of the Russian Federation.
The Georgian government considers the referendum and the very existence of the South Ossetian republic illegal.