US won’t recognise results of any Russian effort to divide Georgian territory - State Dept

The United States will not recognise the results of any effort by “Russia or its proxies” to “divide sovereign Georgian territory”, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday, following information on plans by Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to hold a referendum on joining Russia.

Ned Price condemned Russia’s ongoing occupation of the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, called on Russia to cease the  occupation and fulfil its obligations under the terms of the 2008 ceasefire with Georgia.

We will not recognise the results of any effort by Russia or its proxies to divide sovereign Georgian territory. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders,” the State Department spokesperson said.

The de facto authorities of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali declared on Wednesday they were set to hold a public referendum to join Russia.