MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 26th August, 2018) The partially-recognized republic of South Ossetia, which seceded from Tbilisi 10 years ago, will never rejoin Georgia, former secretary of the South Ossetian Security Council Anatoly Barankevich told Sputnik on Sunday.
"It [South Ossetia] will never return under Georgia's wing. I am 150 percent sure," Barankevich said.
He added that Georgia was trying to turn South Ossetians against Russia using its special services.
"What really stands in the way here, is the disunity within the society. Right now, everyone must abandon their ambitions, claims for highest positions and join hands and get down to work, unify," Barankevich added.
The republic proclaimed its independence in 1991, which triggered several armed conflicts between South Ossetia and Georgia. In 2008, the Georgian military launched missiles at the republic's capital Tskhinval, with Russia interfering in the conflict to protect local residents. Moscow deployed its troops in the region and drove away Georgian military after just five days of hostilities.
On August 26, 2008, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another region that seceded from Georgia.
