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South Ossetia will ask for people’s opinion on joining Russia without delays — President

Accession to Russia is not merely a long-time dream, it is an age-old dream of the Ossetian people, Anatoly Bibilov said

TSKHINVAL, March 30. /TASS/. Authorities of the Republic of South Ossetia will ask the people’s opinion regarding accession to Russia without delays, President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov said on Soloviev Live Wednesday.

"The Constitution of the Republic of South Ossetia lays everything out extremely clearly; we, of course, must ask the people’s opinion, so that the people could voice their opinion on accession to Russia. It would not be too difficult to do without delays. This is, as they say, technicalities. [Accession to Russia] is not merely a long-time dream, it is an age-old dream of the Ossetian people," he said.

On Wednesday, Bibilov announced that the republic will take legal steps to accede to Russia shortly.

On August 26, 2008, following an armed aggression from Georgia, Russia recognized the sovereignty of republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russian leaders stated repeatedly that the recognition of the two former Georgian autonomous regions reflect the current reality and will not be reviewed. However, Tbilisi refused to recognize the independence of the republics.

On March 15, the Central Election Commission of South Ossetia completed the registration of presidential candidates. On April 10, Bibilov will compete for the top office of the republic against Parliament Deputy Speaker Alexander Pliyev, Nykhaz political party leader Alan Gagloyev, lawmaker Garry Muldarov and former lawmaker Dmitry Tasoyev. Bibilov was elected to the presidential office in April, 2017. He served as the Parliament Speaker since June 2014.