South Ossetian leadership invites Russian businessmen and Cossacks

The so called president of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity stated that he welcomed the grant of a 99-year lease of land to Russian businessmen where it is planned that Cossacks will settle in the territory of South Ossetia. Georgian analysts suggest that Eduard Kokoity is simply voicing Moscow’s ideas and wishes to somehow utilize South Ossetian territory and integrate into the Russian Federation. Of course, by doing so, Russia intends to further increase its control over the South Caucasus. Georgia will consider taking some preventive measures and call on the west to put serious pressure on Russia not to take such provocative steps.