GEORGIA: South Ossetians hold referendum to reaffirm independence from Georgia, while ethnic Georgians vote in an 'alternative' ballot
Record ID:
643567
GEORGIA: South Ossetians hold referendum to reaffirm independence from Georgia, while ethnic Georgians vote in an 'alternative' ballot
- Title: GEORGIA: South Ossetians hold referendum to reaffirm independence from Georgia, while ethnic Georgians vote in an 'alternative' ballot
- Date: 12th November 2006
- Summary: (BN10) TSKHINVALI, SOUTH OSSETIA, GEORGIA (NOVEMBER 12, 2006) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION/ SECURITY OUTSIDE RUSSIAN AND SOUTH OSSETIAN FLAGS ON BUILDING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION SOUTH OSSETIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD KOKOITY, WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO YOUNG SONS ENTER POLLING STATION, POSING FOR CAMERAS ELECTION OFFICIAL REGISTERING KOKOITY TO VOTE VARIOUS OF KOKOITY COMING OUT OF VOTING BOOTH, AND WITH THE HELP OF HIS YOUNG SONS, CASTING HIS BALLOT PAPER (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SOUTH OSSETIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD KOKOITY, SAYING: "I voted for the independent republic of South Ossetia, for a bright future for our people, and against a third genocide of Ossetian people." KOKOITY'S YOUNG SON SOUTH OSSETIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD KOKOITY, SAYING: "Today the people of South Ossetia have come together in a ballot for peace, stability, and for a civilised end to conflicts. We stretch a hand (of friendship) both to Russia and Europe and call on everyone to reject a policy of double standards." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SOUTH OSSETIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD KOKOITY, SAYING: "We have shown that we are right (in our stance), and the political and legal basis (achieved) today paves the way for South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Dnestr regions to be recognised (as independent)." WOMAN VOTING IN BALLOT
- Embargoed: 27th November 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Georgia
- Country: Georgia
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9UECVOTZ73TDNLGN8695OP1QD
- Story Text: South Ossetians voted on Sunday (November 12) to reaffirm independence from Georgia in a referendum the West called illegal but Russia said should be respected.
Ethnic Georgian refugees, who fled South Ossetia in 1992, also voted in an alternative ballot.
Nestled on the Russian border in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains, South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia after a war in 1991-92 that killed hundreds and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
But amid increased tensions within Georgia, and between Georgia and its giant neighbour Russia, voters went to the polls to declare once again their independence from Tbilisi.
The polls, in which some 55,000 eligible voters will also elect a regional leader, opened at 0500 GMT and will close at 1700 GMT. First results are expected for Monday (November 13).
Uniformed separatist fighters armed with Kalashnikov rifles braving cold weather outside polling stations were the only security force visible in the South Ossetian capital.
South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity, accompanied by two sons and followed by two dozen singing and dancing supporters, turned up in the morning at a polling station in a local school after visiting a war cemetery across the road to lay flowers.
"I voted for the independent republic of South Ossetia, for a bright future for our people, and against a third genocide of Ossetian people," Kokoity, widely expected to be re-elected, said after casting his ballot.
"Today the people of South Ossetia have come together in a ballot for peace, stability, and for a civilised end to conflicts. We stretch a hand (of friendship) both to Russia and Europe and call on everyone to reject a policy of double standards", Kokoity said, "We have shown that we are right (in our stance), and the political and legal basis (achieved) today paves the way for South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Dnestr regions to be recognised (as independent)."
Most South Ossetians hold Russian passports and use the Russian rouble as their currency. The Russian flag flies next to South Ossetia's white, red and yellow flag around Tskhinvali. They say they were forcibly absorbed into Georgia under Soviet rule and now want to exercise their right to self-determination.
Ethnically, Ossetians are different from Georgians -- their language is related to Iranian. But the region, located just 100 km (60 miles) from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, has many villages populated by ethnic Georgians.
The ethnic Georgians reject the vote called by the separatists and run their own polls to elect a rival leader for South Ossetia on Sunday. Tskhinvali does not recognise the alternative vote.
"I voted for peace, for an European, civilised way of development, and for new relations between Georgians and Ossetians", said Uruzmag Karkusov, the man in charge of the alternative ballot, after voting in the Georgian village of Eredvy, close to the South Ossetian border.
At another polling station in Eredvy, Vladimir Bagiashvilim, an Ethnic Georgian from South Ossetia said that he wishes to return to his homeland.
"I hope for most of all to go back to my native land, and to live in my motherland," he said as he queued to vote.
The referendum comes as relations between Moscow and Tbilisi are at rock bottom. Russia cut transport links last month after a spying row and it now says it may cut gas supplies unless Georgia agrees to a twofold price increase.
Georgia accuses Russian peacekeepers of backing separatists and wants them replaced. Russia denies the charges.
A 500-strong peacekeeping force composed of troops from Georgia, Russia and the bordering Russian province of North Ossetia observes a fragile truce agreed in 1992.
Skirmishes between separatists and Georgians have increased in the last few years as Georgia's pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili stepped up his rhetoric against the breakaway statelets of South Ossetia and Abkhazia further west.
Saakashvili has said he will not recognise the result of the vote and Western powers have also described it as illegitimate.
Last month, Abkhazia asked Russia to recognised the region's independence and take it under its patronage.
Russia has not replied to Abkhazia's request, but says if the West supports independence for Kosovo from Serbia it should not deride independence drives in the former Soviet Union. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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