Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Saturday meet with South Ossetian leader Leonid Tibilov in the southern Russian resort of Sochi, the Kremlin reported.
“One of the key directions of bilateral cooperation is social and economic restoration and development of South Ossetia,” the Kremlin said.
On Friday, Putin met with Abkhazian President Alexander Ankvab.
The presidents of the two former Georgian republics are in Russia on working visits.
A three-year investment program of assistance to South Ossetia’s social and economic development was approved in February 2011. The program envisions development of roads, social facilities, implementation of state target programs in agriculture, industry and land cadastre.
Russia recognized the two breakaway republics as independent states following a five-day war with Georgia over South Ossetia in August 2008.
Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny island nations of Nauru and Tuvalu are the only countries to have followed suit, recognizing the two republics, while another Pacific nation, Vanuatu, has recognized only Abkhazia.
Putin was sworn in as Russian president on May 7.
