The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili made an official statement about the referendum scheduled for April 9, which will finally settle the issue connected with renaming the South Ossetia into Alania.

In contrast to the Georgian government's efforts directed at reconciliation and strengthening the trust among the separated population, the Russian authorities are taking new steps to strengthen and increase the isolation of the annexation of the occupied territories," the statement reads.

Kvirikashvili urged the international partners to respond to the decision of holding a referendum " to counter Russia's provocative actions directed towards illegal annexation."