The recognition of South Ossetia by Russia 12 years ago, on August 26, 2008, provided new opportunities for the development of the Russian-South Ossetian relations, which are built on a firm international legal basis, the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy for post-conflict settlement, Murat Dzhioev, told IA Res. According to the Plenipotentiary, bilateral relations are developing on the basis of treaties and agreements concluded in accordance with international law.
The decision
Murat Dzhioev headed the foreign policy department of South Ossetia in different years and remembers what work was done to recognize the independence of South Ossetia by Russia.
According to him, the work on recognition began back in 1992. “Since then, the South Ossetian authorities have repeatedly appealed to the Russian State Duma, to the Russian authorities, to recognize our independence. And although Russia supported South Ossetia, provided all kinds of assistance, but at that time there were international circumstances that did not allow Russia to recognize South Ossetia as the independent state, ”the Plenipotentiary said.
He has reminded that when, in August 2008, Georgia once again carried out an armed aggression against South Ossetia, the vast majority of whose inhabitants were at the same time citizens of Russia by law, when the Russian peacekeepers, who had been the guarantor of peace and security for more than ten years, were also attacked, Russia used force and forced Georgia to peace.
According to Dzhioev, then Russia received not only the legal, but also the moral right to recognize a real state - South Ossetia.
“After August 12, 2008, negotiations and meetings were held to build Russian-South Ossetian relations, and the only optimal option that would protect the people of South Ossetia from a repetition of Georgian aggression was the decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia. Summit meetings were held, this issue was considered in the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, and on August 25 the Russian legislative body approved this proposal. On August 26, we were all waiting for the recognition of South Ossetia to be finally announced. I was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I remember that at 3 pm it was sounded, there was general rejoicing over the fact that South Ossetia is a recognized state and this is a guarantee of the safety of the people, our children from the repetition of the aggression from Georgia, ”M. Dzhioev emphasized.
A small excursion into history
August 26 has become the recognition of historical and legal justice. “The significance of the event is very important, primarily because it is the recognition of the right of the people of South Ossetia to create their own state. Secondly, it meant that after 600 years the Ossetian state reappeared on the world map. And thirdly, on August 26, 2008, started a new stage in the development of relations between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation. This gives many opportunities for the progressive development of Russian-Ossetian relations, which have very deep historical roots, since at least since the 18th century Ossetia was oriented towards Russia, ”the Plenipotentiary said.
He has added that the recognition of independence was suffered by the people of South Ossetia, starting in 1989, when the Soviet Union began to disintegrate and nationalist forces appeared in Georgia, taking a course towards creating a national state. “Then it became clear that they would pursue the nationalist policy that had been pursued in Georgia practically since 1917. The events of that period showed that it would be very difficult for non-Georgian peoples to live in the former Georgian SSR. Therefore, against the background of the increasing aggressiveness of the Georgian politicians and authorities, the South Ossetian Regional Council in September 1990 made the only correct decision - raised the status of the autonomous region to the Republic, but within the USSR, ”he said.
According to Dzhioev, for over a year then the South Ossetian authorities were trying to make South Ossetia a subject of the renewed Union. He has reminded that as soon as the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991, the South Ossetian authorities took a course towards the independent state.
“A referendum was held on January 19, 1992, and on May 29 of the same year, the results of the referendum on independence were enshrined in the Independence Act. Since then, South Ossetia has gone through all the necessary stages of development in accordance with international law.
Therefore, in 2008, when Russia decided to recognize the independence of South Ossetia, it had a full legal basis, since the South Ossetia did not get ahead of itself and did not lag behind in anything," the Envoy concluded.
