South Ossetia to hold referendum on becoming part of Russia

[Baneth]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/n...ia/565394.html

South Ossetia is due to hold a constitutional referendum, the results of which will make it easier for the disputed region to become one of Russia's regions, the republic's president Leonid Tibilov said, TASS reported Monday.

“We are discussing possible dates [for the referendum] at the moment. There's no specific date yet, but it will happen in the near future. Before August,” the president said in an interview to TASS.

The referendum will center on changing the republic's constitution in a way which would make future incorporation into the Russian Federation easier.

South Ossetia is a breakaway region unrecognized by international community. In 2008, Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war over the territory, which is now recognized by Russia and a handful of other states as an independent nation.

SO it looks like Putin is planning on changing borders ....again.

[Kuntantee]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/n...ia/565394.html



SO it looks like Putin is planning on changing the borders of Europe....again.

Europe? Isn't it in Caucasus?

[Baneth]

Europe? Isn't it in Caucasus?

Whoops

/10char

[Deleted]

SO it looks like Putin is planning on changing borders ....again.

Must compliment Putin for his political ruthlessness. Lucky for Putin separatism is banned in Russia.....

[Azadina]

Are they going to be held at gunpoint by Russian military aswell while voting?

[Belize]

Are they going to be held at gunpoint by Russian military aswell while voting?

Don't be silly, those aren't Russian soldiers, ignore the Russian flags, accents, outfits and vehicle plates.

[Templar 331]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia

Nothing new unfortunately.

[Hound Archon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia

Nothing new unfortunately.

They already tried in 1992 and 2006.

[Easo]

IIRC 2011. presidental elections there already showed the future.
Well, this was to be expected anyway, gotta get back the old borders

[Chetnik]

You guys realize this is all happening because of Kosovo right? It wasn't until after Kosovo "declared independence" that all these areas that formerly belonged to the USSR decided they wanted to be back with Russia. The Kosovo precedent just gives them the justification to carry it out

[Tackhisis]

SO it looks like Putin is planning on changing borders ....again.

I'm afraid South Ossetia predates Putin by 11 years or so...

[ringpriest]

Are they going to be held at gunpoint by Russian military aswell while voting?

I thought tanks, soldiers and bombs were how you got democracy? Or does that only count when the US, EU, and Saudis do it? (Maybe there's some magical threshold where you have to kill so many tens of thousands of a nation's citizens before it gets democracy, and the Russians haven't managed it yet in South Ossetia - unlike the US and allies in Libya, Yemen, and Iraq?)

[May90]

They've been de facto a part of Russia ever since 2008. Not sure why they decide to make it official now; in the current political climate, it seems like a mistake to me, since it can only lead to further sanctions.

I thought tanks, soldiers and bombs were how you got democracy? Or does that only count when the US, EU, and Saudis do it? (Maybe there's some magical threshold where you have to kill so many tens of thousands of a nation's citizens before it gets democracy, and the Russians haven't managed it yet in South Ossetia - unlike the US and allies in Libya, Yemen, and Iraq?)

No political thread is complete without the US bashing.

[Hooked]

I could see all the Slavic and eastern bloc countries reuniting with Russia. Europe is ruined already and the eu is a disaster now.

[Deleted]

in the current political climate, it seems like a mistake to me, since it can only lead to further sanctions.

Now is a excellent idea, what can west do, that they have not done already?

[Chetnik]

I could see all the Slavic and eastern bloc countries reuniting with Russia. Europe is ruined already and the eu is a disaster now.

Highly doubtful. For as much of our culture is shared, most of the people love to point out the minor differences. Hell, Croats and Serbs say their languages are separate (and now Bosniaks and Montenegrins are trying to say the same), but the two dialects are literally mutually intelligible. There's just too much bad blood, and that's only considering south Slavs. Imagine trying to get Right Sector to agree with the Cossacks. It's just not gonna happen

[Deleted]

They've been de facto a part of Russia ever since 2008. Not sure why they decide to make it official now; in the current political climate, it seems like a mistake to me, since it can only lead to further sanctions.


No political thread is complete without the US bashing.

Or the war crime apologists

[May90]

Now is a excellent idea, what can west do, that they have not done already?

They can always block extra trade channels, etc. The sanctions against Russia at this point aren't even comparable to those against Iran, let alone North Korea or Soviet Union in the past. The regime feels like it is free to do whatever it desires, since the sanctions don't affect the ruling class significantly. I think one of the essential steps would be to ban Putin personally from entering EU, the US and their allies - when he realizes that he cannot shift responsibility on others for his actions any more, perhaps he will start considering his actions more seriously.

[Azadina]

I thought tanks, soldiers and bombs were how you got democracy? Or does that only count when the US, EU, and Saudis do it? (Maybe there's some magical threshold where you have to kill so many tens of thousands of a nation's citizens before it gets democracy, and the Russians haven't managed it yet in South Ossetia - unlike the US and allies in Libya, Yemen, and Iraq?)

Did US force a vote in those countries to join as part of the US, or else.... (like Crimea)? I think you're purposefully ignoring the point.

[Hooked]

I thought tanks, soldiers and bombs were how you got democracy? Or does that only count when the US, EU, and Saudis do it? (Maybe there's some magical threshold where you have to kill so many tens of thousands of a nation's citizens before it gets democracy, and the Russians haven't managed it yet in South Ossetia - unlike the US and allies in Libya, Yemen, and Iraq?)

Its worked out pretty good for us americans so far. Imagine a sharia country being the worlds leading super power. Fuggedaboutit! Build that wall!.