Two referendums may be held in South Ossetia: the first on joining Russia and then the second on uniting with North Ossetia, said the so-called president of the occupied Tskhinvali region Anatoly Bibilov.

He said Tskhinvali would soon take "legal steps" to join Russia. Bibilov also stressed that consultations with Moscow are currently underway and that a referendum may be held after April 10.

"We must understand that direct accession to the Russian Federation and direct unification of the Ossetians will not happen at the same time, because the law does not allow it. Once South Ossetia is part of the Russian Federation, the process of unification of Ossetia will begin and then two referendums should be held," Bibilov said.

According to him, it is a real prospect that so-called South Ossetia will join Russia.

"Today we have this window of opportunity. Today we emphasize once again that the centuries-old desire of the people of South Ossetia to join the Russian Federation is real. We simply do not have the right not to use this opportunity," Bibilov said.