Georgian foreign office condemns “Presidential elections” in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali

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.