22 Dec 2015 15:27

Russia to continue helping S. Ossetia - Matviyenko

MOSCOW. Dec 22 (Interfax) - Russia will continue helping South Ossetia financially and socio-economically in order to raise living standards in the republic, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said on Tuesday.

"We understand how key Russian support is for the republic. We intend to continue to provide financial, socio-economic and other forms of influence, in order to ensure a genuinely better quality of life for the population," Matviyenko told South Ossetian parliamentary speaker Anatoly Bibilov.

Russia is aware of its responsibility in this matter, given that around 80% of South Ossetian residents have Russian citizenship, she said.