STATEMENT OF THE STATE DUMA OF FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION on Results of Referendum in South Ossetia about the Issue of Granting It Independence and about the Results of Elections of the President of South Ossetia of November 12, 2006

The State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation notes that the problem of Georgian-South Ossetian conflict must be solved only by means of peaceful negotiations, taking into account the interests off all the stakeholders. Georgian authorities during the entire preceding period failed to establish a dialogue between authorities and population of South Ossetia, to provide for its political, economic and social rights and security of population of South Ossetia in accordance with universally recognized principles of and norms of International Law. Tens of thousands of Ossetians were forced to leave Georgia as refugees and they took shelter in the Russian Federation.

    The Georgian authorities have more than once threatened population of South Ossetia by armed violence, they have considerably increased in the recent years scale of military preparedness of Georgia immediately nearby zone of Georgian-Ossetian conflict and were creating highly tense situation in the zone of this conflict. The Georgian armed units conducted shootings of settlements in South Ossetia, which resulted in casualties among the peaceful population. Georgian authorities are carrying out policy of economic blockade of South Ossetia. A lot has been done by the current Georgian authorities for worsening Georgian-Russian relations that have great traditions of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. Responsibility for the formed situation also lies on the Western politicians, who are supporting and encouraging such type of activities of Georgian authorities, supplies of ammunition and armaments to Georgia and are facilitating worsening of Georgia’s relations with Russia.

   Inhabitants of South Ossetia under such circumstances were forced to create own independent legislative and executive bodies, law enforcement structure, judiciary, armed forces, providing thus for protection of Human Rights on this territory and own security.

   As a result, territorial integrity of Georgia, recognized by International Community, in accordance with the opinion of Deputies of the State Duma, is in fact violated in many respects due to the course, realized by official Tbilisi.

   The referendum that took place on November 12, 2006 in South Ossetia is in many respects due to the policy, realized by Georgian authorities.

   The State Duma considers that the referendum on the issue of granting independence to South Ossetia and the elections of the President of South Ossetia were conducted in accordance with election legislation of South Ossetia and with respect to universally recognized democratic principles and norms.

   In accordance with data of Central Election Commission of South Ossetia, in the referendum and elections of the President participated 95, 7% of citizens, entitled to vote.

   99, 88 % of voters voted for maintenance of course of South Ossetia, for its independence.

   96, 1 % of voters supported candidacy of E. D. Kokoiti for the position of the President of South Ossetia.

   Deputies of the State Duma consider that results of the referendum in South Ossetia, which reflect actual aspirations of its population, must be fully taken into account by International Community for protection of Human Rights, Peace and Security in the region and for the fair settlement of Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

   Deputies of the State Duma support efforts of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and of the Government of the Russian Federation for improvement of economic situation of South Ossetia and for removal of restrictions on its external economic activities, for providing access of inhabitants of South Ossetia to Russian and world culture, education, for protection of rights of the Russian Federation’s citizens, residing on the territory of Ossetia.

Deputies of the State Duma support activities of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and of the Government of the Russian Federation on provision of stability and security in the entire region and take note of the significance of maintaining Russian Peacekeepers in the composition of special forces on establishment of peace and provision of public order in Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone in compliance with Agreement on Principles of Settlement of Georgian-South Ossetian Conflict of July 24, 1992 and of necessity to provide for normal functioning of International Peacekeeping Forces.

   The State Duma considers that the Russian Federation must form its policy, taking into account the freedom of expression of choice, demonstrated in the recent referendum, in compliance with norms and precedents of International Law and legislation of the Russian Federation.

   December 4, 2006.

(www.duma.ru)