TSKHINVAL, May 31. /TASS/. South Ossetia will continue its course toward greater integration with Russia based on the outcome of the 1992 referendum and in compliance with bilateral treaties with Russia, South Ossetian President Alan Gagloyev said on Tuesday at a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the republic’s declaration of independence.
South Ossetia on Sunday celebrated the 30th anniversary of independence. On May 29, 1992, the Supreme Council of South Ossetia, based on the results of a referendum, adopted an act declaring the independence of the republic. This day is considered one of the main holidays in the republic and is a day off. The main events dedicated to the anniversary were scheduled for Tuesday as these are the days when the republic is bidding farewell to the fighters who died during the special military operation of Russia in Ukraine.
"The agreements on friendship and cooperation, on alliance and integration between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation have created a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations, based on which our state will develop in full accordance with the will of our people, based on the historic decisions that were taken at the referendum in 1992, confidently continuing its course toward further integration with the Russian Federation," the president said at a meeting that took place in the parliamentary session hall, where 30 years ago fateful decisions for the republic were made.
The head of state said that after the declaration of independence of South Ossetia, the severity of Georgian aggression increased sharply, and only the decisive diplomatic intervention of the Russian Federation forced Georgia to sign a peace agreement on June 24, 1992, on the basis of which trilateral forces were introduced into the conflict zone on July 14, 1992 for peacekeeping.
"Despite the lack of recognition of our independence by other states, the republic continued to develop, build and strengthen sovereign statehood, never questioning the choice made at the referendum on January 19, 1992 and enshrined by the adoption of the Act of Declaration of Independence," he said. "Ultimately, this made possible the recognition of the independence of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation, whose example was followed by a number of other states."
"Recognition has become the most important event that our people have been awaiting many years," the president went on to say. "The act of recognition finally secured the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia, the final victory of our people in the struggle for their right to self-determination."
Popular vote
On the same day, representatives of the public and the leadership of the republic, headed by the president, took part in the ceremony of laying flowers and wreaths at the monument to the first leader of the republic, Torez Kulumbegov (1938-2006), in front of the presidential administration building. Kulumbegov was the first to come up with a proposal to transform the South Ossetian Autonomous Region into a republic. His signature is under the historic decree of the Supreme Council of the Republic of May 29, 1992, which adopted an act declaring independence. Shortly before the adoption of the independence act, on January 19, 1992, a nationwide vote was held, in which 73% of the entire adult population of South Ossetia took part. The absolute majority of citizens voted for independence of the Republic of South Ossetia and to join the Russian Federation.