South Ossetia's parliament adopted Friday the address to Russia's president and both houses of parliament to recognize the Georgian separatist republic's independence.
"We appeal to Russia to be the first country from the international community to recognize the independence of the republic of South Ossetia," reads Tskhinvali's request.
Addressing a rally in capital Tskhinvali on Thursday, South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity said: "Those who armed Georgia are also responsible for what happened in South Ossetia, and do not have the moral right to claim the role of peacekeepers."
Both chambers of Russia's parliament are expected to consider the appeals by the republics on Monday.
Russian Regional Development Minister Dmitry Kozak said Friday that Russia was likely to approve the South Ossetian sovereignty appeal.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled earlier this week that whether Russia recognized South Ossetia and a second separatist Georgian region, Abkhazia, as independent countries would depend on the Georgian president.
"[Mikheil] Saakashvili is responsible for how the situation will develop," Lavrov said
