South Ossetia Will Hold Referendum on Joining Russia

MOSCOW TIMES  – South Ossetia is due to hold a constitutional referendum, the results of which will make it easier for the disputed region to become one of Russia’s regions, the republic’s president Leonid Tibilov said, TASS reported Monday.

“We are discussing possible dates [for the referendum] at the moment. There’s no specific date yet, but it will happen in the near future. Before August,” the president said in an interview to TASS.

The referendum will center on changing the republic’s constitution in a way which would make future incorporation into the Russian Federation easier.

South Ossetia is a breakaway region unrecognized by international community. In 2008, Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war over the territory, which is now recognized by Russia and a handful of other states as an independent nation.