President Margvelashvili condemns Abkhazia elections

Holding presidential elections on Georgia’s territory represents harsh neglect of international law and an attempt to legitimize the existing occupation, says the Georgian President.

Giorgi Margvelashvili released a special statement regarding the August 24 elections in Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia.

"Georgia’s territorial integrity has been violated. Armed forces of another country are still on [Georgia’s] occupied territories and human rights are constantly violated,” Margvelashvili said.

He noted many Georgian civilians were still internally displaced because of the ethnic cleansing implemented within the occupied territories – Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"Russia has not completed its commitments according to the Ceasefire Agreement and other international acts. International organisations including the EU monitoring mission are not allowed to enter the occupied territories,” the President said.

"In such a situation, any attempt aiming to legitimise this reality is shocking.”

Margvelashvili thanked the international community for condemning the so-called elections and supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.