Proposed Russian annexation of South Ossetia

In 1992, a referendum which was to decide whether South Ossetia should stay as a part of Georgia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union was held.

North Ossetia expressed itself in favour of this, and Russian authorities stated that they respected the desire of the South Ossetian people.

This referendum was to happen after the 2022 South Ossetian presidential election, in which Bibilov was not re-elected, with Alan Gagloev taking his office instead.

Analysts have often discussed both regions together, as Abkhazia is also a partially recognized state that broke off from Georgia with Russia's help, to which it remains dependent as well.

However, Abkhazia is more independent from Russia, and has rejected South Ossetia's "Ossetianization" approach in regards to this country as some have described it.

South Ossetia is a small partially recognized and Russian-occupied breakaway state in the Caucasus region with about 40,000 to 60,000 inhabitants, whose population, after the ethnic cleansing of Georgians, consists predominantly of Ossetians.

[1][2] However, in contrast to Abkhazia, which has sought closer relations with the rest of the world, South Ossetia has remained more isolated, focusing mainly on its relationship with Russia.

[5] On 19 October 2015, during a meeting with the Russian politician Vladislav Surkov, Tibilov stated that another referendum on annexing South Ossetia into Russia could be made in the future.

[8] On 30 March 2022, on a televised address, Bibilov, still as president of South Ossetia, said that the republic would take legal steps to prepare to join the Russian Federation.

He later clarified to Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyov that what he meant was organizing another referendum, which could be held after 10 April, the day of the 2022 South Ossetian presidential election.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, David Zalkaliani, stated that "it is unacceptable to talk about a referendum when this territory is occupied by Russia".

Beka Davituliani [ka], a member of the Parliament of Georgia from the then ruling political party Georgian Dream, stated that South Ossetia's calls for a referendum were a provocation.

[16] Later, on 13 May, Bibilov, still as incumbent president, announced that a referendum on merging South Ossetia into Russia would take place on 17 July 2022.