A referendum, where citizens will be able to express their opinion on the rebirth of the ancient name of their country, the State of Alania, will be held in the Republic of South Ossetia on April 9, 2017.
A lot of people in the world, and first of all in friendly countries, hail this decision as a most important act that shows a commitment of South Ossetia to the principles of the democratic system of a state, fundamental right of its people in an confirming the sovereignty and the historical continuity of their state.
Georgia has also decided to show their attitude to the referendum. Unfortunately, there is nothing new, except annoying propaganda stamps like «Georgian primordial territories», «Georgian indigenous population», «occupation», «annexation», «condemn», «prevent» and other similar terms, which are addressed to South Ossetia and its strategic ally of the Russian Federation, and according to Georgian politicians, should give their statements at least some weight and importance.
Tbilisi emotional reaction, of course, will not affect neither on holding the referendum, which is purely an internal affair of the Republic of South Ossetia, nor on its results. Nevertheless, we couldn’t but pay attention of the international community on another heavy-handed effort of adjacent state to intervene in the internal affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia.
Georgia had enough time to realize, that continuation of such a policy, based only on personal interests and claims, is absolutely blemished.
Tskhinval, 9 February, 2017