De facto president of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region Anatoly Bibilov has signed a degree on restoring the Soviet-era name of Stalinir for the region’s main town of Tskhinvali.
The decree says that the town will be called Stalinir along with Tskhinvali, in deference to prominent Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalin.
Bibilov also instructed the de facto government members to popularise the name.
Local media outlets report that the name Stalinir will be used during the upcoming festive events in the region, including Victory Day (May 9).
It was common practice in the Soviet Union to name cities or towns after communist leaders like Stalin, Lenin and others.
Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions of Georgia are now occupied by Russia.