Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region sets July 17 referendum on joining Russia

The announcement by Anatoly Bibilov follows his initial reveal on March 30 that the Russian-occupied territory would take steps to join Russia, prompting the Georgian Government to denounce the plan for the referendum as unacceptable. Photo: Reuters

Agenda.ge, 13 May 2022 - 22:41, Tbilisi,Georgia

The de facto president of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on Friday announced the territory would hold a referendum on July 17 on whether to become part of Russia. 

The announcement by Anatoly Bibilov follows his initial reveal on March 30 that the Russian-occupied territory would take steps to join Russia, prompting the Georgian Government to denounce the plan for the referendum as unacceptable. 

On April 1, United States Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said the US would not recognise the results of any effort by “Russia or its proxies” to “divide sovereign Georgian territory”.

Price condemned Russia’s ongoing occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, called on the Russian Government to end the  occupation and fulfil its obligations under the terms of its 2008 ceasefire agreement with Georgia.