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%

Politics of South Ossetia


Constitution
Executive President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev Prime Minister of South Ossetia Konstantin Dzhussoev
LegislatureParliament of South Ossetia Chairman Alan Tadtaev Political parties
Elections Elections Presidential: 2017 2022 Parliamentary: 2019 2024
Administrative divisions First level: Four Raions Second level: Towns / cities
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Dmitry Medoyev International recognition Provisional Administration of South Ossetia Politics of Georgia Georgian–Ossetian conflict Proposed Russian annexation of South Ossetia Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Diplomatic missions of / in South Ossetia
Other countries
v t e

A referendum on changing the territory's name was held in South Ossetia on 9 April 2017, alongside presidential elections. 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. 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).

Background

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". In April 2016, Tibilov said he intended to hold the referendum before August of that year. However, on 30 May, Tibilov postponed the referendum until after the presidential election due in April 2017.

Results


Choice	Votes	%
For	25,123	79.53
Against	6,466	20.47
Total	31,589	100.00

Valid votes	31,589	94.49
Invalid/blank votes	1,842	5.51
Total votes	33,431	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	41,814	79.95
Source: South Osetia

References

Tskhinvali Sets Date for Presidential Polls Civil, 18 January 2017
^ 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.
"Breakaway Tskhinvali proposes name change". Agenda.ge. December 29, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
"South Ossetia profile – BBC News". Bbc.com. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
"President: South Ossetia plans to hold referendum on becoming part of Russia before August". TASS. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
Fuller, Liz (2016-05-30). "South Ossetia Postpones Referendum On Accession To Russian Federation". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2016-05-30.

v t e Elections and referendums in South Ossetia
Presidential elections	1996 2001 2006 2011 2012 2017 2022 2027
Parliamentary elections	1990 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024 2029
Referendums	1991 1992 2001 2006 2011 2017
See also: Elections and referendums in Georgia Elections and referendums in Abkhazia

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