Georgia's Breakaway Region Ditches Referendum on Joining Russia

In this August 9, 2008 file photo, a column of Russian armored vehicles are seen on their way to the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali somewhere in the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgia. © Musa Sadulayev, AP

The leader of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia on Monday scrapped plans to hold a referendum on joining Russia which his predecessor had scheduled for July 17.

South Ossetia was at the center of the Russian-Georgian war in 2008 after which the Kremlin recognized the territory as an independent state and stationed military bases there, AFP said.