De Facto President of Tskhinvali: I Want to See S. Ossetia within Russia
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, August 27
De facto President of Georgia’s eastern occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region Anatoly Bibilov says that his life goal is to see the region integrated into Russia.
‘’I want to see South Ossetia in the composition of the Republic of Russia, this is the stimulus and purpose of my life,’’ Bibilov, says.
"The most important event in the history of our republic happened on 26 August of 2008. I do not say and will not say no to the national idea - to join Russia,’’ Bibilov claims.
The de facto leader also commented on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s recent visit to Georgia.
"As for Merkel's arrival to the Russian borders, in my opinion, this was not original. On the one hand, it is very good, it turns out that they are interested in our country. We receive guests when they come through the door. I invite Angela Merkel to arrive in South Ossetia through the door and not from the gardens, "Bibilov said.
He said that the Chancellor through binoculars saw the development of South Ossetia and fine building of the Russian FSB border division buildings and “how perfectly they are performing their duties.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the occupation line in the Odzisi village. The Chancellor viewed the territories in the vicinity of the line with binoculars.
The Russo-Georgian 2008 War was a war between Georgia, Russia and the Russian-backed self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The war displaced 192,000 people and while many returned to their homes after the war, 20,272 people, mostly ethnic Georgians, remained displaced.
35 Georgians and 6 Ossetians remain missing since the war.
Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria have recognized Georgian occupied regions of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia as independent republics so far. The rest of the international community says the regions are occupied by Russia.
