Georgian MFA: so-called presidential elections in de facto Tskhinvali “another illegal act” by Russia
The so-called presidential elections in occupied Tskhinvali are being held on April 10. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the so-called presidential elections held in Georgia’s Russian-occupied breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on Sunday, saying it was “another illegal act” by Russia aimed against Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Ministry pointed out that holding the so-called presidential elections in de facto Tskhinvali was “in complete contradiction” with the norms and principles of international law.
Such provocative actions are aimed to legitimize the illegal occupation of the Georgian regions and the ethnic cleansing of Georgians,” the Georgian MFA wrote.
The Ministry added the referendum on unification with Russia, recently announced the occupation regime in Tskhinvali, would “likewise be null and void” attempt of annexation.
We condemn so-called presidential elections & recently announced referendum on unification with Russia in occupied #Tskhinvali region, representing provocative actions of the occupation regime & directed against ????????'s sovereignty & terr integrity.
— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) April 10, 2022
More info https://t.co/LPVU7ekLqs
The Georgian MFA appealed to the international community to “take effective measures” regarding the issue and urged Russia to respect Georgia’s territorial integrity and withdraw its illegal recognition of independence of the occupied regions.
The so-called presidential elections in occupied Tskhinvali are being held on April 10, with incumbent de facto president Anatoly Bibilov running for the second term.
Levan Zhorzholiani, the Chairman of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Commission of Tbilisi City Assembly, has called on the international community to “remain vigilant” and “raise its voice” against what he labeled as “alarming developments” in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia.
The de facto authorities of Abkhazia have “once again” undermined the principle of the territorial integrity of Georgia, forcing this region further into isolation to the detriment of the local population, Leendert Verbeek, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CoE) said in response to the so-called “parliamentary elections” held in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region on Saturday.
Holding the so-called parliamentary elections in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region is a “futile attempt” to legitimise the illegal occupation of the Georgian territories, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
The International Criminal Court in Hague has issued arrest warrants against three de facto officials of Georgia's Russian-occupied breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region in a case of torture and ill-treatment of Georgian civilians during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, the Georgian Justice Ministry announced earlier today.
Foreign dignitaries have refused to recognise the so-called presidential elections in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on April 10, reaffirming support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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.