Ossetian Parliament Seeks Russian Help

Boris Grizlov, Speaker of Russia?s State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, said on June 8 that Russian lawmakers will discuss the appeal from the South Ossetian Parliament urging Moscow to recognize its independence, according to the Interfax news agency.
 
The newly elected Parliament of breakaway South Ossetia recently submitted the appeal, which also urges Moscow to defend Russian citizens living in the breakaway region, to the Russian Parliament.
 
?The recent mobilization of the Georgian forces in the conflict zone, as well as the humanitarian activities and aggressive statements made by several top officials in the Georgian governemnt, is nothing more but political, military and economic pressure on South Ossetia,? the South Ossetian Parliamentary statement reads.
 
The ruling party, Unity (Edinstvo), which is backed by the de facto President of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoev, won most of the mandates in the 34-seat parliament during the elections held on May 23. The Unity seeks for South Ossetia?s accession into the Russian Federation.