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2022 South Ossetian annexation referendum

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2022 South Ossetian annexation referendum
17 July 2022
Do you support the unification of the Republic of South Ossetia and Russia?

A referendum is scheduled to be held in South Ossetia on 17 July 2022. Voters will be asked whether they approve of renouncing independence and an annexation by Russia, or keeping independence.[1][2][3]

The reported question on the ballot is: ‘Do you support the unification of the Republic of South Ossetia and Russia?’[4]

Background

Main article: Proposed Russian annexation of South Ossetia

On 30 March 2022, on a televised address, Bibilov, still as president of South Ossetia, said that the republic would take legal steps to prepare to join the Russian Federation. He stated that "I believe that unification with Russia is our strategic goal, our path, the aspiration of the people" and that Russia is South Ossetia's "historical homeland". He later clarified to Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyov that what he meant was organizing another referendum, which could be held after 10 April, the day of the 2022 South Ossetian presidential election.[5] All this came after South Ossetia sent soldiers from the Russian military base in Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital, to assist Russia on its invasion of Ukraine. Many of these refused to fight and returned to South Ossetia,[6] and the decision of sending soldiers to Ukraine was also not well received in South Ossetia itself, which put pressure over Bibilov in regards to the then incoming election.[5]

Relevant political figures in North Ossetia were highly receptive of the possibility of South Ossetia joining Russia. Bibilov, posteriorly to his 30 March address, stated that North Ossetia and South Ossetia could unite and become one single Ossetia in the case that the latter was annexed by Russia. Sergey Menyaylo, Head of North Ossetia, expressed himself in favor of an Ossetian unification, and so did Vitaly Cheldiev, deputy of the Parliament of North Ossetia.[7] Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin Press Secretary (that is, the spokesperson of the Presidential Administration of Russia), also commented on the issue, declaring that while "no legal or any other action has been taken in this respect", "we treat the expression of the opinion of the people of South Ossetia with respect".[8]

On the other hand, in Georgia, this idea was strongly rejected. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, David Zalkaliani, stated that "it is unacceptable to talk about a referendum when this territory is occupied by Russia". Beka Davituliani [ka], a member of the Parliament of Georgia from the then ruling political party Georgian Dream, stated that South Ossetia's calls for a referendum were a provocation.[9]

On 8 May, Bibilov was defeated in the second round of the 2022 South Ossetian presidential election by Alan Gagloyev. Bibilov had been endorsed by United Russia, the ruling party of Russia.[10] Gagloyev was seen by observers as being less supportive of holding a referendum to join Russia, saying that Russia was "still busy with other issues," in reference to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11][12] After his election, Gagloyev stated that a referendum would still be held, "as soon as the right time comes" and that "South Ossetia has been and is ready today to join the Russian Federation."[13]

References

  1. ^ Reuters (2022-05-13). "Georgian breakaway territory sets July 17 referendum on joining Russia -Tass". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-05-13. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "Georgia's breakaway region to hold referendum on joining Russia in July: leader". France 24. 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  3. ^ "South Ossetia to hold referendum on accession to Russia on July 17 — presidential decree". tass.com. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  4. ^ "South Ossetia to hold Russian annexation referendum on 17 July". OC Media. 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  5. ^ a b Kucera, Joshu (31 March 2022). "South Ossetia says it will seek to join Russia". Eurasianet.
  6. ^ ""No bulletproof vests and equipment" - soldiers from South Ossetia refuse to fight in Ukraine". JAMnews. 1 April 2022.
  7. ^ Grobman, Ekaterina (31 March 2022). "Вопрос о присоединении Южной Осетии к России будет решаться после выборов в республике". Vedomosti (in Russian).
  8. ^ Grzegorczyk, Marek (1 April 2022). "South Ossetia again mulls referendum on joining Russia, but even Moscow doesn't seem keen". Emerging Europe.
  9. ^ "'Unacceptable': Georgia condemns proposed separatist referendum on joining Russia". Euronews. 31 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Russian ruling party endorsed Bibilov for re-election in separatist Tskhinvali". Caucasus Watch. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Opposition leader wins first round in South Ossetia presidential poll". OC Media. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Tskhinvali Leadership Hopeful Shows Cautious Stance on Annexation". Civil.ge. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Gagloev: not right time for referendum on joining Russia". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
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