Gagloev announces steps to prepare referendum

Anatoly Bibilov had decided to hold a referendum without consultations with Russia; now after adjusting the wording on holding a referendum, the issue will be discussed again with Russia, Alan Gagloev, the incumbent president of South Ossetia, has announced.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 13 the president of South Ossetia signed a decree on holding a referendum on the republic's accession to Russia. On May 24, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian President, said that from the legal viewpoint, the formulation of the question to be submitted to the referendum needs to be edited. On May 30, the incumbent head of South Ossetia, Alan Gagloev, suspended the referendum decree until consultations with the Russian Federation.

Anatoly Bibilov, Gagloev's predecessor, had appointed a South-Ossetian referendum on joining Russia without consultations with the Russian side, Alan Djioev, the head of the presidential administration of South Ossetia, explained on June 21.

"All the work (on holding a referendum) should start from scratch; it should be legally verified in accordance with Article 1 of the Alliance and Integration Treaty," the IA "Res" has quoted Mr Djioev as saying.

President Alan Gagloev has noted that the wording of the referendum question also raises questions. He has stressed that the issue will be discussed by the republic's parliament; consultations will be held with the involvement of public activists; and only then, consultations with Russia will begin, the IA "Res" has explained in its message.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 21, 2022 at 11:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.