Experts expect life improvement in South Ossetia after conclusion of alliance treaty with Russia

According to experts, the treaty on alliance and integration between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia will lead to improved living standards in the republic. Meanwhile, the experts emphasize that the treaty does not stipulate the merger of South Ossetia and Russia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 18, in Moscow, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Leonid Tibilov signed a Russian-South-Ossetian alliance and integration treaty.

It is still early to talk about the merger of South Ossetia and Russia, since this point has not been provided in the new treaty. This opinion has been expressed by Alexander Skakov, the coordinator of the Centre for the Study of Central Asia and Caucasus of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

"I believe that the ratification of the treaty is a significant event, which opens new perspectives for South Ossetia, associated in this case not with a change in the status of the republic and the example of Crimea, but with the improvement of the living conditions of people in South Ossetia. This is primarily about raising living standards and integration of the region's population into the Russian society. However, no merger with Russia is stipulated by the treaty," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has been told by Alexander Skakov.

According to Yuri Vazagov, an expert of the South Ossetian media centre "Ir", the treaty between South Ossetia and Russia differs from the similar treaty between Abkhazia and Russia.

The basis of the treaty between Russia and South Ossetia "has been a compromise project designed with the suggestions of the Parliament," Yuri Vazagov has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.