US Ambassador condemns opening of Russian polling stations in occupied Abkhazia, Tskhinvali
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The United States (US) Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly said it is inadmissible to carry out any activities in the Russian occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) - without the consent of the Government of Georgia.
Ambassador Kelly referred to the opening of polling stations in the two breakaway regions for yesterday’s Russian presidential elections.
Georgian Foreign Ministry has called for the international community to condemn Russia’s illegal steps in Georgian occupied regions. Photo by Natalia Airian/Sputnik
Kelly said the US does not recognize Russian authority over Abkhazia and Tskhinvali and consider the two breakaway regions parts of Georgia.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze said the opening of polling stations in the Russian occupied regions is against international norms.
@MFAgovge condemns holding t/Presidential Elections of RF in Georgia's occupied regions as demonstration of steps towards factual annexation. #Geo appeals to international society to duly assess Russia's actions undermining rules-based international order. https://t.co/CmIIzZUoV2pic.twitter.com/vpPi8xXhyA
— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) March 18, 2018
Earlier, the de-facto administration of Tskhinvali announced the closure of the crossing-point between the breakaway region and the rest of Georgia due to presidential elections in Russia.
From 9 pm on Saturday until 6 am on Monday, individuals were temporarily unable to use the crossing-point between Georgia and its Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali.
Georgian Foreign Minister has released a statement condemning the opening of 33 polling stations in the Russian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) for today’s Russian presidential elections.
Locals of the Russian occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) cannot use the crossing-point between the breakaway region and the rest of Georgia for a couple of days.
The Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation has responded to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili’s recent appeal to act jointly to resolve the complicated situation concerning Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili’s death in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
"I urge the leadership of the Russian Federation to take joint steps and resolve this complicated situation”, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has said. This August marks the 10th anniversary since the war of 2008, which according to PM Kvirikashvili "has left a tremendous mark on the Georgian people’s minds and Georgia-Russia relations”.
Vladimir Putin has received 94.1 percent of votes in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia region, local media has reported.
Vladimir Putin has received 92.8 percent of votes in Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, local media has reported.