US Senator: “elections” in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali a “sham”
Coons drew a parallel to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and said the scenario in Tskhinvali would be reflected in the eastern part of Ukraine in case of their successful occupation by Russian troops. Photo: Getty Images
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The illegitimate presidential elections in Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), and a referendum for the region to join the Russian Federation, were on Friday called a “sham” by United States Senator Chris Coons.
Coons drew a parallel to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and said the scenario in Tskhinvali would be reflected in the eastern part of Ukraine in case of their successful occupation by Russian troops.
“It is a reminder of the fate that may await the eastern regions of Ukraine should the current invasion succeed,” Senator tweeted.
The illegitimate presidential election and referendum vote to join the Russian Federation being held in Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of South Ossetia is a sham, and a reminder of the fate that may await the eastern regions of Ukraine should the current invasion succeed.
— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) April 8, 2022
The American politician noted as the world witnessed the “horrors” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “we must also stand against Russia’s 14-year-long illegal occupation of Georgia and aggression throughout the region.”
Moldova does not recognise the validity of the so-called “elections” set to take place in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region of Georgia on Sunday, the Moldovan foreign office said on Friday.
Any referendum by Georgia's Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region to unify with Russia will be illegal and void, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said on Friday in a statement.
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.
No referendum in the Russian-occupied territories has legitimacy, the Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said on Thursday in response to the information on the de facto authorities in the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region planning to hold a referendum on joining the Russian Federation.
NATO does not recognise the legitimacy of the elections which took place on Sunday in the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), Javier Colomina, the NATO Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said on Monday.
France considers “illegal and void” the elections held by de facto authorities in the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) on Sunday, the Embassy of France in Georgia said on Tuesday.
United States Senator Jim Risch on Monday condemned the second round of the so-called “Presidential elections” held on Sunday in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.