Konstantin Zatulin to initiate in the State Duma hearings on Abkhazia, Transdnestr, and South Ossetia

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On Nov 15, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, director of the Institute for the CIS countries Konstantin Zatulin intends to suggest to his colleagues in the parliament to hold hearings on the Abkhazia's appeal to Russia to recognize the former's independence, the results of the referendum in Transdnestr, and the results that are going to be received at the today's (Nov 12) referendum in South Ossetia. Zatulin informed of his intention at a press conference Nov 12 at the International Press Center in Tskhinval. The Russian MP attends the referendum and presidential election in South Ossetia as an observer.

Speaking of today's presidential election and referendum in South Ossetia, the MP stated: ''In South Ossetia, we observe higher democratic standards than in many other countries, the voting process goes democratically and transparently.'' At the same time, Zatulin pointed out that ''none of the presidential elections in ''Georgia has ever run smoothly – they always ended with a scandal. Remember at least the election of 2003 that became the motive for the so-called velvet revolution.'' ''And, speaking generally, it is unthinkable, as is suggested today, that a more democratic country becomes a constituent part of a less democratic country,'' Zatulin stressed.