Georgia’s de facto Tskhinvali has plans to hold two referendums to “lose independence”

Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region in the heart of the country has plans to hold two referendums after April 10 – one over joining Russia and after that another to unify with North Ossetia, de facto President of Tskhinvali Anatoly Bibilov says. 

He has stated that Tskhinvali would soon take “legal steps” to join Russia, noting that consultations with Moscow are currently underway and that the referendum may be held after April 10.

“We must understand that joining Russia and joining North Ossetia will not take place simultaneously. First we should join Russia and then North Ossetia,” Bibilov said. 

He stated that Tskhinvali’s joining Russia “is now real.”

“Today there is this window of opportunity. Now it is real our century-old desire to join Russia to come true,” Bibilov says. 

Russia, which is exercising effective control on the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, comprising 20 percent of the country’s territory, has not confirmed the consultations so far, but noted that they “respect the wish” of South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) to join Russia.

Russia recognized the Georgian regions as independent states after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war. 

Only Venezuela, Nikaragua, Nauru and Syria have taken the same step so far with the influence of Russia. 

The rest of the international community is unanimous that the regions are occupied by Russia.