Referendum on South Ossetia's accession to Russia postponed till 2017

The referendum will be held after the presidential election in South Ossetia, says the joint statement, signed today by President Leonid Tibilov and Parliament Speaker Anatoly Bibilov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 11, Leonid Tibilov announced the plans to hold a referendum, before August this year, on South Ossetia's accession to Russia. On April 14, the Russian president said, in response to a question about the upcoming referendum in South Ossetia, that "we have not discussed the subject in detail with the leader of South Ossetia."

On July 30, 2015, the entry into force of the Russian-South-Ossetian treaty of alliance and integration was announced. The document provided for the opening of the border, increase of pensions and salaries, and ensuring the security of South Ossetia without its becoming a part of Russia. The signing of the treaty was condemned by Georgia, which considers South Ossetia to be its territory occupied by Russia.

The decision to move the referendum on the republic's entry into the Russian Federation to 2017 was made today at a sitting of the republic's political council with the president.

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