The president of Georgia’s breakaway and self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia, Anatoly Bibilov, said in late March that the territory would take steps to become part of Russia in the near future, Reuters reported.
Moscow has recognized the republic and Georgia’s other breakaway region of Abkhazia as independent states after waging war with Tbilisi in 2008. Russia has provided significant financial support, offered Russian citizenship to its people and deployed thousands of troops there.
“I believe that unification with Russia is our strategic goal, our path, the aspiration of our people,” Bibilov was quoted as saying by the press service of Russia’s ruling United Russia party.
“We will take the appropriate legal steps in the near future. The Republic of South Ossetia will become part of its historic homeland – Russia,” said the leader of the self-proclaimed republic.
