Source: Referendum on Joining Russia not on Agenda of Kremlin Aide’s Talks in Tskhinvali

Holding of a referendum in breakaway South Ossetia on joining Russia was not discussed when Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Vladislav Surkov held talks with officials in Tskhinvali, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported quoting unnamed “source from Surkov’s circle.”

Surkov, who is in charge of overseeing Moscow’s relations with breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, arrived in Tskhinvali for a two-day visit on June 23.

Anatoly Bibilov, whose United Ossetia party won majority of seats in breakaway South Ossetian parliament and who was elected as speaker of newly convened legislative body, told Itar-Tass news agency on June 23 that his party remains committed to its pre-election promise of holding a referendum on joining the Russian Federation.

“Surkov thinks that this idea is not elaborated and not agreed with Russia,” RIA Novosti news agency reported quoting the source.