Georgian foreign office condemns “Presidential elections” in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali
The Ministry added the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people living on the Russian-occupied territories were also being “grossly violated.” Photo: MFA of Georgia
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on Monday condemned the second round of the so-called “Presidential elections” held on Sunday in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, pointing out the “illegal action” violated the fundamental principles and norms of the international law and Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
The foreign office said under the ongoing Russian occupation “no election” would have “any legal consequences” with hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons expelled from the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions as a result of ethnic cleansing of Georgians were “still deprived” of the opportunity to return to their homes safely.
The Ministry added the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people living on the Russian-occupied territories were also being “grossly violated.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the Russian Federation to respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to fulfill its international obligations, including the European Union-brokered ceasefire agreement as of August 12, 2008,” the statement of the foreign office said.
The Ministry also appealed to the international community to “properly assess and respond effectively” to what it called “another illegal action” against Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Anatoly Bibilov, the de facto President of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali, lost in the runoff of the “elections” to Alan Gagloev.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The de facto president of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on Friday announced the territory would hold a referendum on July 17 on whether to become part of Russia.
The Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church on Monday responded to the message of the Russian Patriarch’s message of congratulation to the de facto President of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on his election win by saying the development “raises misunderstandings”.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on Wednesday the European Union would consider the intended referendum in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on joining Russia “illegal” and not recognise it.
The intended referendum of the de facto authorities in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on the territory joining Russia was discussed on Wednesday in a phone call between Zurab Abashidze, the Special Representative of the Georgian Prime Minister for Relations with Russia, and Grigory Karasin, the Chair of the International Committee of the Russian Federation Council.
Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker Davit Sergeenko on Friday said no kind of integration of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region with the Russia-Belarus union could be compatible with “any international rules or laws”.