South Ossetia, a breakaway region from Georgia, is in discussions with Moscow about the possibility of joining the Russian Federation, news agency RIA cited the head of South Ossetia's parliament as saying on Sunday.
"We are discussing all these issues in close coordination with Russia, taking into account our bilateral relations and treaties," RIA quoted Alan Alborov, South Ossetia's Parliament Chairman. "When we come to this idea together with the Russian Federation, we will do it."
South Ossetia, which declared independence from Georgia after a conflict in the early 1990s, maintains close cultural and economic ties with Russia, including the widespread use of the Russian passport and currency among its residents. Moscow recognized South Ossetia's independence following a short war with Georgia in 2008.
