‘Tskhinvali Referendum’ Rehearsal for What’s Coming in Ukraine, Says Ukraine President of Adviser Arestovich
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, May 16, 2022
Adviser to the President of Ukraine Oleks Arestovich made a statement regarding the so-called Tskhinvali referendum, noting that it may be a rehearsal for the upcoming referendums in Ukraine (Kherson Oblast, Donetsk, Luhansk).
According to Arestovich, by holding a referendum, the Kremlin will test how well it will be conducted and if they do not get the desired result, they will probably withdraw it in Ukraine as well.
“In my opinion, this may be a rehearsal of the big referendums they are planning on the territories of Ukraine. First they want to see [the Russians] whether they will win a small referendum. Secondly - this is a small victory. They have to declare something. They will have a victory in South Ossetia.”
When asked if Georgia decides to take any military steps, whether it has a chance to enter the occupied Tskhinvali territory, Arestovich answered briefly:
“I do not know the situation of the Georgian Armed Forces, so I can not assess, but I know the situation of the Georgian government well, and they do not seem to be capable. They may be capable, but in my perception they are not.”
“I think the West will have a reaction, it will be a good test of their attitude towards this war and such actions of the Kremlin all over the world. Now let's see how they will react to the attempt to annex the territories of a sovereign country, Georgia, even in the name of a referendum.
“I'm interested in how the West will react, I'm especially interested in the reaction of France and Germany,” he said.
On May 13, the current de facto president of South Ossetia, Anatoly Bibilov, called the so-called has signed a ‘referendum’ on the republic’s accession to Russia. The de-facto referendum is scheduled for July 17.
