MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax-AVN) - The State Duma insisted on Wednesday that Russian policy reflect the results of a November 12 referendum in the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia in which 98% of voters backed the proposed independence of the region.
"The State Duma believes that, in shaping its policy, the Russian Federation should, in keeping with international legal standards and the precedents and legislation of the Russian Federation, take account of the free expression of will by the people of South Ossetia in the course of the referendum," the Duma said in a statement.
The statement said both the referendum and a South Ossetian presidential election also held on November 12 had been based on South Ossetian law and "complied with internationally recognized democratic principles and standards."