According to Anatoly Bibilov, so-called president of occupied South Ossetia, the "republic" will be part of the historical homeland - Russia.

Bibilov's statement is posted on the official website of Russia’s ruling party.

According to the de facto president of the occupied region, "legal steps will be taken" to unite "South Ossetia" with Russia in the near future.

"The Russian world today defends the interests of those who are loyal to it, those who oppose Nazism, respect universal human values, and the fundamental rights and norms accepted throughout the international community.

The first revival of the Russian world in recent history means that there is an edge that cannot be crossed, which happened right here in South Ossetia in 2008, when Russia decided to defend the Ossetian people and recognize the independence of the republic of South Ossetia, for which we will always be grateful to the leadership of the Russian Federation and Russian people.

Thank you, brothers and sisters. It was a historic decision that guaranteed peace and development of the people of South Ossetia.

However, the main historical, strategic goal of the Ossetian people - the divided people - is to unite within the borders of one state.

This state is the Russian Federation. Our people have repeatedly set this goal, we had the opportunity to fulfill our centuries-old dream in 2014, we missed the chance then, but we will not allow it to happen again.

I think unification with Russia is our strategic goal, our path and expectations of our people. We will take appropriate legal steps in the near future. The republic of South Ossetia will be part of its historical homeland - Russia," Bibilov says in his statement.