The press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the change of the so-called “government” in occupied Tskhinvali is not connected to a possible accession of the occupied region into Russia.

“No, it is not,” Peskov said in response to a question about whether the resignation of the so-called “president” of occupied Tskhinvali could be linked to statements about possible accession to Russia.

For context, on June 22, a meeting took place between the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the outgoing so-called “president” of occupied Tskhinvali, Alan Gagloev. They discussed the implementation of an agreement on deep integration, which was signed in the Kremlin on May 9.