De facto ex-pres of Tskhinvali points at threats to gene pool as locals sent to Ukraine to fight

The de facto  former president of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region, Eduard Kokoity, has warned of ‘serious threats’ to a gene pool as the local youth are being sent to Ukraine to fight.

 

Previously he welcomed the sending of locals to Ukraine to fight against Ukrainians and support Russia in the war. However, following the dissatisfaction of the local population, he changed his rhetoric.

 

Kokoity has told supporters that troops sent to Ukraine from the Tskhinvali region should have “elementary conditions.”

 

“They must not be killed simply. We have already practically lost the gene pool,” Kokoity said.

 

According to him, he knew Andrey Bakaev, a young man from Tskhinvali who had died in Ukraine.

 

“And how many will be like that now? Let’s think about it. Let us at least unite to save our boys,” Kokoity added, but also said he supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

“We understand that if Russia loses, we will also lose. We understand this very well. No one in Ossetia says ‘no,’ we say ‘yes’, we are standing by our strategic partner,” Kokoity said.

 

Russia recognized two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent states after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.

 

The international community has called on Russia since then to withdraw its troops from historic Georgian lands.

 

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the de facto Tskhinvali has activated talks on joining Russia.