GEORGIA: South Ossetia holds a referendum to reaffirm independence from Georgia in a vote the West calls illegal but which Russia says should be respected

As polls closed on Sunday (November 12) in a referendum on independence held in Georgia's break away region of South Ossetia, crowds started gathering on the main square of the capital, Tskhinvali, to celebrate the massive victory of the vote. The Sunday referendum reaffirming the independence from Georgia was called illegal by the West but Russia insists it should be respected. Nestled on the Russian border in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains, South Ossetia broke away after a 1991-92 war that killed hundreds and forced tens of thousands to flee. But amid increased tensions within Georgia, whose pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili seeks to regain control over the region, voters went to the polls to reaffirm their independence drive and elect a regional leader. "I voted for independence and a brighter future," South Ossetia's incumbent President Eduard Kokoity, widely expected to be re-elected, said after casting his ballot. The referendum came with relations between Moscow and Tbilisi at rock bottom. Russia cut transport links last month after a spying row and it now says it may cut gas supplies unless Georgia agrees to a twofold price increase. Election officials said more than 90 percent of some 55,000 eligible voters took part in the referendum. They promised to give early election results on Monday morning (November 13). Ethnically, Ossetians are different from Georgians -- their language is related to Iranian. But the region, 100 km (60 miles) from Georgia's capital Tbilisi, has many villages populated by ethnic Georgians, some of whom fled separatist-controlled areas during the war. They reject the separatist vote and ran their own polls to elect a rival regional leader on Sunday. Dmitry Sanakoyev, a former separatist prime minister who opposes Kokoity, is the most probable winner of that vote. He said he favoured keeping South Ossetia within Georgia. "I voted for peace, for an European, civilised way of development, and for new relations between Georgians and Ossetians", said Uruzmag Karkusov, the man in charge of the alternative ballot, after voting in the Georgian village of Eredvy, close to the South Ossetian border. At another polling station in Eredvy, Vladimir Bagiashvilim, an Ethnic Georgian from South Ossetia said that he wishes to return to his homeland. "I hope for most of all to go back to my native land, and to live in my motherland," he said as he queued to vote. Celebrations got under way in the main square of the regional capital Tskhinvali after voting ended at 1700 GMT, leaving little doubt about the public mood and the outcome. "Kokoity is our president!" chanted hundreds of mainly young people, singing national songs and waving South Ossetia's white, red and yellow flags. Kokoity joined the celebrations and addressed his cheering countrymen. "I am sure that we together with you all will achieve our aim and live in a free, independent and united Ossetia," said Kokoity from the stage. Members of Russia's pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi (Our's), who monitored the vote, said their exit poll showed 99 percent backed independence and voted for Kokoity. There were no Western observers. Russian news agencies quoted organisers of the alternative poll as saying 40,000 people voted -- a figure which separatists say is impossible given South Ossetia's population of 70,000. There has been no reaction from Tbilisi to either vote so far, but Saakashvili has said he will not recognise the result of the separatist vote. A 500-strong peacekeeping force composed of troops from Georgia, Russia and the bordering Russian province of North Ossetia observes a fragile truce agreed in 1992. Georgia accuses Russian peacekeepers of backing separatists and wants them replaced. Russia denies the charges.

ITN Source | November 12, 2006

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