Exclusive from South Ossetia: Independence or Allied Relations with Russia?

• 10.23.2015, 11:58
•  Region,  World,  Interview

"Armedia" IAA presents an exclusive interview with Dean Alborova,
political scientist of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

-  Today there are a lot of talks about a possible referendum in South Ossetia for joining Russia. Will you, please, what the people in South Ossetia really want and what mood is there in general? 

-  The mood is different. There are proponents of South Ossetia's joining to Russia - they explain this with security issues; they say that becoming part of Russian Federation, South Ossetia will finally solve security issues, first and foremost it is a protection from the Georgian claims to our territory and, therefore, protection against another Georgian aggression and the second – it is the question of reunification with North Ossetia (supposedly, within the Russian Federation it is easier). The second part of the society supports the strengthening of the state, the expanding of the number of countries to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and allied relations with Russia. This part of society also supports the reunification with North Ossetia, but not as part of another state. Since today it is unrealistic, the question of reunification still remains closed. Moreover, neither North nor South Ossetia is actually ready for the process, because it is not only the desire but also the solution of the set of administrative and legal issues. By the way, supporters of joining the Russian Federation today are no longer talking about reunification with North Ossetia. They are more inclined to the fact that South Ossetia should join the Russian Federation and be a separate subject of the federation, and maybe someday the reunification into one entity federation will take place.

Therefore, the issue is very complex. Statement by the President of the RSO on initiating a referendum on South Ossetia's joining the Russian Federation for many was a big surprise, but the most important thing  are the questions that rises in this case: 1. Why did the issue rise just after the arrival and the meeting with Surkov? Earlier, no referendum on the issue was supported by our president. 2. While Russia fights against the entire West with its retaliatory sanctions in connection with Ukraine, South Ossetia, in fact, embarrasses Russia with its referendum.  On the other hand, the clear message was this: Now we unanimously must vote for the entry, and then, when Russia wants, and it will have such an opportunity, it will quickly annex South Ossetia. And, of course, the question that rises is - by whom are the messages being generated? By Moscow or Tskhinvali? ..