Putin Approves Military Deal with Georgia’s Breakaway South Ossetia

 Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to sign a deal integrating the forces of Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) into Russian army. The information was released by Russian news agency, Tass, yesterday.

Tass reports that Putin also instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to hold negotiations with the South Ossetian side and sign this agreement on Moscow’s behalf.

Under the agreement, the integration of South Ossetian units into the Russian Armed Forces involves recruiting citizens for military service in the Russian Armed Forces and sending them to Russian military bases to prepare for active duty.

The deal will allow the Russian military to recruit South Ossetian soldiers as contractors after they have been dismissed from active duty by South Ossetia.

Tass reports that the agreement on integrating some units of the South Ossetian Defense Ministry into the Russian Armed Forces is an additional enactment of the Treaty on Allied Relations and Integration signed by the presidents of both countries on March 18, 2015.

The treaty envisages the promotion of social, economic, humanitarian and foreign affairs, and defense and security cooperation between the two countries. It also includes forming a common defense and security space between Russia and breakaway South Ossetia.

Officials in Tbilisi believe the treaty is illegitimate.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mikheil Janelidze stated that the agreement is illegal, and it has not been recognized by the international community as well.

"Such steps are not directed towards the maintenance of peace or peaceful resolution of the conflict. They prevent the peace process, that is needed for the resolution of the conflict,” Janelidze stated.

The minister also called on the Russian Federation to fulfill its obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement and withdraw military forces from the Georgian territories, in order to create all conditions for a possible peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Georgia’s State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality also released a statement regarding the issue.

“We strictly condemn the decision on merging certain ‘South Ossetian troops with Russia’s army[…]This step is the continuation of the annexation process that has been underway since 2008. Tens of similar agreements have already been signed between Russia and de-facto governments aimed at strengthening Russia’s full and exclusive control on Georgia’s occupied territories,” the statement of the ministry reads.

The Ministry calls on international community to duly assess the agreement and calls on Russia to fulfill international commitments. 

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: ABC News