The authorities of the pro-Russian Georgian separatist region of South Ossetia announced on Friday that they would organize a referendum on July 17 on integration into Russia.

"President" Anatoly Bibilov "has signed a decree on holding a referendum in the Republic of South Ossetia", his services said in a statement, referring to the "historic aspiration" of the inhabitants of this Georgian region of join Russia, of which it is bordering.

More details will follow.