Karasin claims he discussed Tskhinvali plans to join Russia with “Georgian colleagues”

The head of the Council of International Affairs of the Russian Federation Grigory Karasin says that he had discussed the plans of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region to join Russia with his “Georgian colleagues,” but in his comments for Russian Tass, the former deputy FM of Russia did not identify whom he meant.

 

“I have briefly discussed with my Georgian counterparts the issue of the referendum on the unification of South Ossetia with Russia,” Karasin said.

 

“This is one of the topics of concern to our Georgian partners. We are closely watching this issue,” he added.

 

On March 24, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a meeting of Georgian-Russian expert format was held in Moscow, in which about 40 experts, political scientists and the representatives of the Georgian Diaspora were present.

 

The event was organized by Gorchakov Foundation and the Primakov Georgian-Russian Community Center.

 

At the event Krasin said that the Kremlin was happy with the “balanced” position of the Georgian authorities towards the war.

 

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said that oficial Tbilisi had nothing to do with the event.

 

De facto Tskhinvali says that it has plans to hold a referendum over joining Russia and another referendum over joining North Ossetia.

 

A newly elected de facto President Alan Gagloev says that the issue of the referendum will be resolved as soon as Russia has time for this.