GEORGIA: South Ossetians vote in a referendum on independence from Tbilisi

South Ossetians vote on Sunday (November 12) in a referendum to reaffirm independence from Georgia likely to pit the West, which calls the vote illegal, against Russia, which says the result should be respected. Nestling on the Russian border in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains, South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia after a war in 1991-92 that killed hundreds and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. The polls, in which some 55,000 eligible voters will also elect a regional leader, opened at 0500 GMT. Most of those who turned up first backed the independence and wanted incumbent President Eduard Kokoity re-elected. The voting will end at 1700 GMT and first results are expected on Monday (November 13). "Independence for us means survival, survival for South Ossetia," said Nodar Kochiev. When asked if he was for independence or for joining Russian Federation he replied without hesitation, "First independence then joining Russia." Pensioner Yelena Gazzayeva said outside a polling station next to a war-time cemetery she came to defend her small town and small country whose children had died for this. "We voted for going far away from Georgia. We voted for independence," said another retired resident. There are strong pro-Russian sentiments in the region. Most South Ossetians hold Russian passports and use the Russian rouble as their currency. The Russian flag flies next to South Ossetia's white, red and yellow flag around Tskhinvali. Ethnically, Ossetians are different from Georgians -- their language is related to Iranian. However the region is located just 100 km (60 miles) from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, and has many villages populated by ethnic Georgians. They reject the vote called by the separatists and run their own polls to elect a rival leader for South Ossetia on Sunday. Tskhinvali does not recognise the alternative 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. Skirmishes between separatists and Georgians have increased in the last few years as Georgia's pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili stepped up his rhetoric against the breakaway statelets of South Ossetia and Abkhazia further west. Saakashvili has said he will not recognise the result of the vote and Western powers have also described it as illegitimate. Russia has said that if the West supports independence for Kosovo from Serbia it should not deride independence drives in the former Soviet Union.

ITN Source | November 12, 2006

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