Scientists argue on new name of South Ossetia

The new name of the republic, proposed by the president – “State of Alania" – has not so many supporters, as believed, said Irina Gagloeva, a lecturer of the South-Ossetian State University (SOSU). It is more logical to rename the republic similar to its northern neighbour – into “South Ossetia-Alania”, said Professor Yuri Gagloity. His colleague Professor Zoya Bitarova believes that adding the term of "State of Alania" to the name of the republic is historically justified.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the referendum on renaming South Ossetia will take place on April 9, parallel with the presidential election.

On February 21, historians and linguists of South and North Ossetia, officials of the government and presidential administration held a roundtable to discuss the renaming issue.

Irina Gagloeva, the head of the IR Media Centre and a lecturer at the History Division of the SOSU, spoke against matching the election with the referendum "in order to save budget funds." In her opinion, it is against the norms of democracy.

According to Mikhail Mamiev, the Director of the Museum of North-Ossetian Values, the renaming of South Ossetia will not solve all problems, but will help "to restore the ancient name of the state."

Kosta Pukhaev, the deputy head of the presidential administration, noted that renaming of South Ossetia would restore the historical rights of Ossetians.

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