Alan Gagloev, who came first in the first round of so-called presidential elections in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region says that a referendum over joining Russia may be held when both the region and Russia “are ready” for this.

He stated earlier this week that the issue was hurriedly pushed forward prior to the race to “record more votes.”

De facto President Anatoly Bibilov said a few days before the “elections”  that two referendums could  be held in Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) - one over joining Russia and  another on joining North Ossetia.

In the race on April 10, which was condemned by Tbilisi and the international community,

Gagloev received 36.9% - 10,705 votes, while Bibilov 33.5% - 9,706 votes.

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

Only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have done so since then, while the rest of the international community have called on Russia to withdraw its troops from historic Georgian lands.

Over Tskhinvali plans on referendum Russia says that the issue has not been discussed so far, noting that they respect “the wish of South Ossetia” to join them.