The de facto president of Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, Alan Gagloev, on Thursday met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This was the first meeting between Putin and Gagloev, who was elected de facto president in 2022.

Information about their possible meeting was spread a few weeks ago, however, was not confirmed as Gagloev was infected with  coronavirus and the meeting was canceled.

"We see how complex geopolitical processes are going on, that is why we need to coordinate our actions within the general context of security like never before," Gagloev told Putin during the meeting.

According to media reports, in addition to various issues, the parties also discussed the gasification of the region. 

"This will be a real advance in the development of our economy. We will be able to stop the outflow of the rural population and preserve our villages, a new impetus for the development of agriculture. At the same time, this will attract investors to South Ossetia,” the de facto official claimed. 

The company "Gazprom - South Ossetia '' [75%-25%] was established in 2009. However, Russia later bought it out completely.