US Senator condemns illegal elections in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali, vows support to Georgia’s sovereignty

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.