South Ossetia’s unification referendum poses a dilemma for both Georgia and Russia

On 19 October, the President of South Ossetia announced plans to hold a referendum on the territory’s unification with Russia. Till Spanke writes that while two previous referendums have been held following the territory’s declaration of independence from Georgia in 1990, a further referendum is unlikely to be welcomed in either Tbilisi or Moscow. He argues that there are few immediate advantages for Russia of pursuing a unification in the current climate and it is likely South Ossetia will come under pressure to delay or cancel the referendum process.