On August 25, Alan Gagloev, the de-facto President of the separatist South Ossetia, and Aslan Bzhania, the de-facto President of the separatist Abkhazia, met with Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council, in Moscow.

The meeting took place on the eve of the 15th anniversary of Russia's recognition of the de-facto independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which is celebrated on August 26.

"It was not the easiest decision Russia made in 2008, but it ensured peace in the Caucasus, protected the life and health of the republic's inhabitants, and solved big tasks. Since then, our allied, very good relations have been developing successfully, and this development will continue," Medvedev said.

Alan Gagloev thanked the Russian leadership for the fateful decision made for South Ossetia in 2008. "In our republic, everyone from small to great knows that your name is associated with the issuance of the decree № 1261 of August 26, 2008, on recognition of the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia. This decision was the logical conclusion of the military operation to force Georgia - this treacherous aggressor - to peace. In the memory of our people, there was no more joyful celebration than August 26," the de-facto President said.

On the same day, Aslan Bzhania met with Dmitry Medvedev separately in Moscow.

Bzhania expressed gratitude to the Russian leadership and personally to Medvedev for making a momentous decision. "You have made a huge contribution to the development of Abkhazian statehood by recognizing the independence of our republic. Thus, Abkhazia was provided with lasting peace. You know very well that between 1993 and 2008, several hundred of our citizens died from terrorist attacks in the Gali district of Abkhazia. All this has stopped, and the border has been strengthened. We have a real opportunity to engage in creative work; kindergartens, schools, and theatres have been restored in huge numbers, and all this is thanks to the peace and support of the Russian Federation. The people of Abkhazia will always remember this because there is no higher value than peace," the de facto head of state said.

Bzhania also assured that all joint projects will be further developed and allied relations strengthened. "Abkhazia will always, when necessary, support all peoples of Russia and brotherly South Ossetia," he said. Aslan Bzhania also expressed hope that the issues on the agenda will be resolved soon and that the friendship between the two countries will become even stronger.

Furthermore,  at a separate meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, Alan Gagloev said that Tskhinvali is ready to develop integration relations up to joining Russia.

"Thanks to Russian assistance, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and infrastructure have been restored. It is a well-known fact that Ossetia voluntarily joined the Russian Empire in 1774 and, since then, has never changed its choice. I want to assure you, dear Dmitry Anatolyevich, that even today, we are ready for further integration with Russia up to joining the Russian Federation at that historical moment when geopolitical conditions for this will come," Gagloev said.

As previously reported by Caucasus Watch, in an interview with AIF on August 23, Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Deputy Security Council Chief, said that the idea of joining Russia is still popular in [the separatist] Abkhazia and South Ossetia [Tskhinvali Region].