France considers Russian-occupied Tskhinvali elections “illegal and void”

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. 

The Embassy said it reaffirmed its “full support” for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders on the backdrop of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.

Any elections or decisions taken in the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia that violate Georgia's territorial integrity are contrary to international law and will be considered illegal and void by France,” the statement said.

The diplomatic office also stressed France’s support for Georgia to “help build a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus.”

De facto authorities in Tskhinvali organised so-called presidential elections on Sunday, with the incumbent de facto president Anatoly Bibilov running for a second term.