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)