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Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia suspends referendum on joining Russia
The president of the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia suspended on Monday (May 30) an earlier announced referendum on whether to become part of Russia until consultations with Moscow are complete.
President Alan Gagloyev said in a decree: "Until the completion of consultations, suspend the Decree of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia dated May 13, 2022 'On calling a referendum of the Republic of South Ossetia'."
South Ossetia was at the centre of the Russian-Georgian war in 2008 after which the Kremlin recognised the territory as an independent state and stationed military bases there.
The full-scale war on Ukraine has sparked an outpouring of solidarity in Georgia.
Monday's announcement came on the 96th day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where Moscow-backed separatists in Donetsk and Lugansk regions have also expressed interest in joining Russia.
In August 2008, Russian forces launched an all-out invasion of Georgia, which was battling pro-Russian militia in South Ossetia, after they shelled Georgian villages.
The fighting ended five days later with a European Union-mediated ceasefire but claimed more than 700 lives and displaced tens of thousands of ethnic Georgians.
Georgians suffer repercussions from Western sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine
On May 13, Gagloev's predecessor, Anatoly Bibilov, signed a decree on holding the referendum, citing the region's "historic aspiration" to join Russia, his office said at the time.
Bibilov lost his bid for re-election earlier this month. Russia has expressed hope that Gagloev will preserve "continuity" in ties with Moscow.
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