President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov has officially announced the republic's desire to become part of Russia. All the legal procedures necessary in such a case would be carried out shortly, he added.
On March 31, as reported by RIA Novosti, Bibilov even suggested the name that the region could have as part of the Russian Federation. It is Ossetia-Alania. Bibilov believes that this name would emphasize and preserve the connection with their ancestors, which is very important. At the same time, the President of Ossetia underlined that consultations are being held with Russian counterparts concerning the accession of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Russian Federation.
Dina Gassieva, spokeswoman for the South Ossetian President, told Gazeta.ru that it had been decided to hold a referendum in the country on joining Russia. The exact timing of the plebiscite will be clarified later, but it will take place after the presidential elections in South Ossetia to be held on April 10 this year. Earlier, Bibilov also said that the republic's authorities would definitely ask the opinion of its people about joining Russia.
Bibilov’s statement on the desire of the republic to join Russia was quoted by the press service of the United Russia party on the same day. Last night, as Interfax reported, a statement was also published by Leonid Kalashnikov, chairman of the State Duma committee on CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots, which said that South Ossetia may express its wish to become part of Russia.
It is specified that in legal terms it may be not only an appeal to the Russian Federation, but also other procedures of legal and constitutional order.
Kalashnikov also noted that Russia is currently protecting and assisting this republic. According to him, in fact, nothing will change, while economically, perhaps, “it will even get better.” Thus, the State Duma believes that South Ossetia's accession to the Russian Federation is quite realistic. Bibilov said that joining Russia is a strategic goal for the republic and this is the way South Ossetia will move towards its further socio-economic development and the strengthening of security in the region. This is what the people want, and that all the necessary “legal steps” in this case will soon be taken, he added.
According to the statement by the President of South Ossetia, published by Interfax, unification with Russia is a strategic goal, since the people of Ossetia are now divided. This historical and strategic goal has been mentioned more than once before. As Bibilov stressed, there was a real possibility in 2014 as that was this year when the peninsula of Crimea returned to its native harbor. “However, then we missed the opportunity to return to Russia, but now we can no longer allow such a thing,” the South Ossetian President said in a statement.
After Bibilov's statement, a video showing a motor rally through the streets of Tskhinvali surfaced on the Internet the same evening. Motorists with Russian flags, honking loudly, drove through the streets of the South Ossetian capital. This rally is a vivid confirmation of Bibilov's words that the population of South Ossetia wants not only to be friends and live in harmony t with Russia, but also to unite into one and be a part of the great power. After all, it was Russia that came to the aid of the Ossetian people in the conflict with Georgia.
Is should be recalled that in August 2008, the Georgian army struck at the Russian peacekeeping forces located in South Ossetia, as well as in Tskhinval.
Russian troops were brought into the republic. The military confrontation ended after five days with the defeat of the Georgian army units.
In the meantime, on September 20, 2021, an agreement on dual citizenship was signed between Russia and South Ossetia.
It is safe to say that it was then when the steps for closer cooperation between the two countries were made, which has now got a real embodiment in the desire of the Republic of South Ossetia to become part of Russia. The final decision on accession, as follows from Bibilov's statement, will be made by the people of the republic in a referendum to be held in the near future.