Breakaway Georgian territory of South Ossetia plans to join Russia

Authored by theglobeandmail.com and submitted by Damo_Banks

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Anatoly Bibilov, the leader of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, during their meeting at the Kremlin on March 6, 2019.PAVEL GOLOVKIN/AFP/Getty Images

The president of the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia said on Wednesday that the territory would take steps in the near future to become part of Russia.

Moscow recognized the territory and the coastal region of Abkhazia as independent after fighting a war with Georgia in 2008. It has provided them with extensive financial support, offered Russian citizenship to their populations and stationed thousands of troops there.

“I believe that unification with Russia is our strategic goal, our path, the aspiration of the people,” Anatoly Bibilov, was quoted as saying by the press service of the United Russia party.

“We will take the relevant legal steps in the near future. The republic of South Ossetia will be part of its historical homeland – Russia.”

As in the Russian-speaking Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, Moscow has used recognition of the breakaway regions, and the awarding of citizenships, to maintain an armed presence in an area of the former Soviet Union that it sees as part of its natural sphere of influence.

In Ukraine, Russia’s long-standing support for armed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk gave it a platform to launch a large-scale military incursion on Feb. 24, one of whose stated aims is to “liberate” the entire, wider Donbas region from Ukrainian control.

Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

THEmrfancypants on March 30th, 2022 at 21:10 UTC »

Is it true that S. Ossetia only has a population of 53K? Pardon my ignorance, but how has it managed to remain autonomous with the much (relatively) larger Georgia right there?

e9967780 on March 30th, 2022 at 19:55 UTC »

If South Ossetia and Abkhazia joined Russia, the rump Georgia can join EU and NATO as there will not be any border issues. Them being outside and in limbo is what prevents Georgia from joining NATO since 2008.

Damo_Banks on March 30th, 2022 at 19:28 UTC »

SS: The Breakaway Republic of South Ossetia has announced its intention to join Russia. I believe this is worth discussing, for in many ways this move is one I find quite surprising. First, things aren't exactly going particularly well for the Russians, so deepening ties (whether you want to or not), appears to me to be of dubious value. Secondly, South Ossetia is probably more convenient to the Russians as a nuisance against Georgia than an integral part of the country, though Abkhazia, I suppose, would continue to fulfill that duty. Disclosure: I know next to nothing about these people.