US Senator condemns illegal elections in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali, vows support to Georgia’s sovereignty
Risch underlined Ukraine was not the only nation Putin had tried to “dismantle and destroy”, in reference to the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, when Russia invaded Georgia and occupied its two regions, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Photo: GettyImages
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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.
Risch underlined Ukraine was not the only nation Putin had tried to “dismantle and destroy”, in reference to the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, when Russia invaded Georgia and occupied its two regions, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
I and the international community condemn yesterday’s illegal elections in South Ossetia and continue to support Georgia’s sovereignty,” the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member tweeted.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on Monday condemned the runoff of the “elections”, 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.
Anatoly Bibilov, the de facto President of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali, lost in the runoff of the “elections” to Alan Gagloev.
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.
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.
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.
The Georgian leadership will be invited to the NATO Summit that will be held in Madrid at the end of June, Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said in a doorstep statement earlier today, ahead of an informal meeting of NATO ministers of foreign affairs in Berlin.
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.