bschwartz:

This is fascinating for a number of reasons not least of which being the impact that it will have on politics in the post-Soviet republics of eastern Europe and central Asia. 

The main obstacle for accession is Georgia’s position requiring that Russia remove customs points on borders with North Ossetia and Abkhazia, Stanovaya said. Georgia is already a WTO member and has the right to block Russia from joining.

I REALLY need to start researching Georgia and their relationship with Russia. There are, and will continue to be, numerous opportunities for historians in North Ossetia and the surrounding region. Perhaps I should start teaching myself to speak Georgian…