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Referendum on entry into Russia due soon — South Ossetia’s parliament speaker

"We have every reason for the entry into the Russian Federation, there are no legal obstacles for this," Alan Tadtayev said

TSKHINVAL, March 30. /TASS/. A referendum on joining the Russian Federation will be held in South Ossetia in the near future, South Ossetia’s parliament speaker Alan Tadtayev told TASS on Wednesday.

"The people of the Republic of South Ossetia will have their say on entry into Russia at a referendum that will be held in the near future. We have every reason for the entry into the Russian Federation, there are no legal obstacles for this," he said. "The main thing for today is to hold a referendum and join the Russian Federation," the speaker said.

Earlier on Wednesday, South Ossetian President Anatoly Bibilov said the country would take legal steps for joining the Russia in the near future. "All the necessary procedures are specified in the constitution of the Republic of South Ossetia, we must listen to the opinion of the people. We will take all these legal steps as soon as possible," the president said.

Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26, 2008 after Georgia’s armed aggression against Tskhinval. The leaders of Russia have said more than once that the recognition of independence of these two former autonomies of Georgia reflected the existing realities and was not subject to revision. Tbilisi refused to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

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