Flag over the State Duma building on Okhotny Ryad Street in Moscow. File photoPYATIGORSK, Mar 31The entry of South Ossetia into Russia is the desire of the people and the dream of their ancestors, now we are closer than ever to this, State Duma deputy from North Ossetia Zurab Makiyev told RIA Novosti. Earlier, President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov said that the republic would take legal steps in the near future to join Russia. Bibilov noted that the opportunity to realize this «strategic goal» was back in 2014, when Crimea was reunited with the Russian Federation following a referendum. According to Bibilov, in the event of the unification of South and North Ossetia, a single entity can be called Ossetia-Alania.The Kremlin does not take any measures after the statements of South Ossetia»There is no need to explain what significance this event has for the Ossetian people both in the south and in the north. This is the desire of the people and the dream of our ancestors — to be a single whole. Now we are closer than ever to this. I am very glad that I live at this time and will be a witness and participant of this historical moment,» Makiyev said. He also believes that the principle of the right of nations to self-determination enshrined in the UN makes it possible to hold a legal referendum on the territory of South Ossetia on joining from a legal point of view and international law, this is possible. The principle of the right of nations to self-determination, enshrined in the UN, makes it possible to hold a legal referendum on the territory of South Ossetia. After its results, it will be possible to talk about the entry of South Ossetia into Russia. As for the intention unification with North Ossetia — from a legal point of view, it is possible after the entry of South Ossetia into Russia as a full-fledged subject. In the future, the issue of uniting the two Ossetias — South and North, into one region of the Russian Federation, will already be considered, «the deputy believes. The Kremlin is not taking any action, including legal ones, in connection with Bibilov's statement about plans for a referendum to join Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday. The head of North Ossetia, Sergei Menyailo, in connection with the intention of South Ossetia to take steps to join the Russian Federation, said that the Ossetians never lost touch with each other, remaining a single people, not divided spiritually and mentally.
Tbilisi believes that the referendum in South Ossetia will not be valid
