TBILISI -- The leader of Georgia's Moscow-backed separatist region of South Ossetia, Anatoly Bibilov, says the de facto independent territory is looking to hold a referendum on joining Russia, a move Tbilisi called "unacceptable."
Bibilov said in an interview with Russian state television on March 31 that South Ossetia was holding "consultations" with Russia on holding a referendum on becoming part of Russia.
"I believe that the unification with Russia is our strategic goal. It is our path. And the South Ossetia will move on that path," Bibilov said.
South Ossetia, along with Abkhazia, are Russian-backed separatist regions that have declared independence from Georgia.
Russia recognized the regions as independent states following a short war with Tbilisi in August 2008. Only a few countries have since followed Russia's lead.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani called the talk of a referendum "unacceptable," saying South Ossetia was an "occupied territory" that belongs to Georgia.
"Such a referendum will have no legal force," he told journalists. "The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Georgian region is occupied by Russia."
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States would not recognize the results of any effort by Russia or its proxies to divide sovereign Georgian territory.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow hasn't taken any "legal" steps on the matter.
"But at the same time, we are talking about people of South Ossetia expressing their opinion and we treat it with respect," Peskov told reporters.
Almost all of the region's 53,500 residents are Russian passport-holders.
Russia, which is currently fighting Ukraine in part saying it is ensuring the safety of Russia-speaking areas in the eastern part of the country, fought a brief war with Georgia in August 2008 over South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The de facto speaker of the parliament of Abkhazia, however, said his region was not considering the possibility of joining Russia.
"There is no issue of Abkhazia joining Russia. Abkhazia's constitution absolutely and clearly considers our country as an independent state," Valery Kvarchia said, adding that Russia was Abkhazia's "strategic partner."
Russian politicians said a referendum in South Ossetia could be arranged in one to two months if a decision to proceed is taken.