Separatist Georgian region to vote on joining Russia

[Griff]

[T]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/South_Ossetia_overview_map.png[/T]
[QUOTE]The Kremlin-backed separatist region of Georgia called South Ossetia is set to vote on whether or not to join Russia next year, according to a statement by separatist officials.

South Ossetia declared its independence in 1991, before the Georgian coastal region of Abkhazia did the same in 1992. Tensions between their benefactor, Russia and Georgia ran at an all time high in 2008, following several incidents on the border of the regions, with violence erupting between local forces and Georgian authorities.

When the Georgian government controversially sent armed forces to regain control of the two regions, both of whom border Russia, Moscow responded by launching a military intervention, having already deployed military personnel within the regions.

A brief conflict killed around 300 Georgian service personnel, 65 Russian soldiers and 365 South Ossetian servicemen and civilians, with Russia establishing de facto control of the regions since.

Georgia and the U.N. do not recognize either region as a sovereign state, however the president of the separatist Republic of South Ossetia, Leonid Tibilov and the speaker of its parliament Anatoly Bibilov have now announced they will hold a referendum on joining Russia in 2017.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.newsweek.com/separatist-georgian-region-vote-joining-russia-2017-464375[/url]

[Nicolas]

I hope it won't start another war...

[Download]

[QUOTE=Nicolas;50407301]I hope it won't start another war...[/QUOTE]

Doubtful. Georgia without a doubt lacks the military capability to retake the region.

[PsychedelicLiz]

If the Ukraine didn't start a war, this sure as fuck won't.

[Ripsipiirakka]

[QUOTE=Nicolas;50407301]I hope it won't start another war...[/QUOTE]

No no, there was already war for south-ossetia, Russo-Georgian war of 2008. Ever since the whole of south-ossetia has been under russian rule.

[Sableye]

Hitch a ride to that cart, though I doubt Russia will dump the cash on it like they did with crimea considering their economy is still trash

[MuffinZerg]

Soth Osetia is pretty much Russia. At least all money in the region comes from Russia and all working people go to work in Russia.
I doubt they will get to join Russia though. For Russia they are more useful as a pseudoindependent entity.

[Broseph_]

[QUOTE=Nicolas;50407301]I hope it won't start another war...[/QUOTE]

Georgia got wrecked so badly in the last way they had to disband both their Air Force and Navy after Russia was done.

[Araknid]

It's too far gone for it to start a war at this point.

[rndgenerator]

Does Georgia actually lose anything by joining? Seems like it would be very beneficial.

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[QUOTE=rndgenerator;50407665]Does Georgia actually lose anything by joining? Seems like it would be very beneficial.[/QUOTE]

Would Georgia lose anything by being subjugated by Russia? I wonder...