Jump to content

2017 South Ossetian name change referendum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2017 South Ossetian name change referendum

9 April 2017 (2017-04-09)

Do you agree with the amendment of part 1 of article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Ossetia, setting it out as follows:

The Republic of South Ossetia - the State of Alania - is a sovereign democratic legal state created as a result of the self-determination of the people of the Republic of South Ossetia.

Names Republic South Ossetia and the State of Alania are equivalent.
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 25,123 79.53%
No 6,466 20.47%
Valid votes 31,589 94.49%
Invalid or blank votes 1,842 5.51%
Total votes 33,431 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 41,814 79.95%

A referendum on changing the territory's name was held in South Ossetia on 9 April 2017, alongside presidential elections.[1] It was approved by 79.53%. The constitution will be amended to denominate the formal name of the country from "Republic of South Ossetia" to "Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania", referencing Alania, a state built by the Alan people.[2] Modern Ossetians are descended from the Alans, although the name Ossetian is of Georgian origin (although the Georgian root word ოსი is itself from an Alanic autonym).[2]

Background

[edit]

In a move towards integration with the Russian Federation, South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov proposed in December 2015 a name change to "South Ossetia–Alania", in analogy with "North Ossetia–Alania", a Russian federal subject. Tibilov furthermore suggested holding a referendum on joining the Russian Federation prior to April 2017, which would lead to a united "Ossetia–Alania".[3] In April 2016, Tibilov said he intended to hold the referendum before August of that year.[4][5] However, on 30 May, Tibilov postponed the referendum until after the presidential election due in April 2017.[6]

Results

[edit]
ChoiceVotes%
For25,12379.53
Against6,46620.47
Total31,589100.00
Valid votes31,58994.49
Invalid/blank votes1,8425.51
Total votes33,431100.00
Registered voters/turnout41,81479.95
Source: South Osetia

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tskhinvali Sets Date for Presidential Polls Civil, 18 January 2017
  2. ^ a b Fuller, Liz (8 February 2017). "South Ossetia Referendum On Name Change Steers Clear Of Thornier Unification Issue". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Breakaway Tskhinvali proposes name change". Agenda.ge. December 29, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  4. ^ "South Ossetia profile – BBC News". Bbc.com. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  5. ^ "President: South Ossetia plans to hold referendum on becoming part of Russia before August". TASS. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  6. ^ Fuller, Liz (2016-05-30). "South Ossetia Postpones Referendum On Accession To Russian Federation". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2016-05-30.