By Davit Kachkachishvili
TBILISI, Georgia (AA) – The new leader of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region suspended a referendum on joining Russia scheduled for July 17.
Alan Gagloyev, the self-proclaimed president of the Moscow-backed region, suspended the vote called by his predecessor, according to a decree.
The vote was suspended until further notice pending discussions with the Russian side, it added.
Russia recognized South Ossetia as an independent state after the Russian-Georgian war in 2008.
The decision to suspend the referendum comes as Russia's war on Ukraine enters Day 97.
*Writing by Merve Berker in Ankara