Anatoly Bibilov, the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, participated in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) which was held on June 2-5. Bibilov was accompanied by the de facto Prime Minister, Gennady Bekoev, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development, Dzambolat Tadtaev, the Finance Minister, Aza Khabalova and the Tskhinvali Region “Ambassador” to Russia, Znaur Gasiev.

During the visit, Anatoly Bibilov and Sergey Menyaylo, the Acting Head of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, laid flowers at the Monument to the Victims of Beslan in St. Petersburg.

Interview with TASS: Investors in the Tskhinvali Region

In an interview with the news agency TASS, which is the Forum’s information partner, Bibilov noted that the Tskhinvali region and Russia are working on a special program for the economic development of the region. Proceeding from the fact that the “republic” is agrarian, the priority is the development of the agrarian sector of the economy and the “agro-industrial complex.” Bibilov also noted that the Russian Ministry of Agriculture assisted the Tskhinvali region to purchase agricultural equipment with a bank loan. The cost of the equipment exceeds RUB 65 million. According to Bibilov, the delegation from the Tskhinvali region held talks with the Russian regions. The goal of all above mentioned is to increase the investment potential of the Tskhinvali region.

According to Bibilov, a number of successful investments were made in the Tskhinvali region. The region has always been famous for apple orchards, and  viticulture. There are also prospects for berries.

• The South Garden investor planted 50 hectares of gardens and further plans to expand. By the end of the year, the company will invest about RUB 200 million in the region as a whole.
• The Ironsan winery exported 200 thousand tons of different varieties of wines to Russia last year. The company has already planted 15 hectares of vineyards.
• The BTK-4 company entered the Tskhinvali region in 2008 and has been successfully operating since  then.

South Ossetia Should be a Part of Russia

It is worth noting that not only the de facto President, Anatoly Bibilov, but also the population of the Tskhinvali region think that “South Ossetia should be a part of Russia”. As Bibilov noted he will run in the presidential “elections” (scheduled for spring 2022) for the second time only if the population expresses the desire to elect him.

Plenary Session and the “Embassy of South Ossetia” in Syria

Bibilov attended the plenary session of the SPIEF. Together with the delegation of the Tskhinvali region, he met with politicians, representatives of the business community, and companies from Russian regions.

During a meeting with the Syrian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Riyad Haddad, Bibilov described Bashar al-Assad’s convincing victory in the elections as “a triumph of justice and a political victory of the Syrian people. Bibilov stressed that the Tskhinvali region has “brotherly relations” with Syria, and the issue of opening a “South Ossetian embassy” in Syria will be worked out in the near future.

Syria recognized the independence of the Tskhinvali region and Abkhazia on May 29, 2018, and established “diplomatic relations” with the Tskhinvali region on July 22.

Synagogue in Tskhinvali

Bibilov met with the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berl Lazar, and discussed the reconstruction of a synagogue building in Tskhinvali. As Bibilov noted it was the oldest synagogue in the Soviet Union before the “Georgian aggression.” Lazar said that he was ready to take the necessary steps to restore the synagogue.

Bibilov said that participation in the Forum will affect the economic development of the Tskhinvali region. He also stressed the importance of the Forum as it represented the Tskhinvali region along with other countries.