Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region sets July 17 referendum on joining Russia
The announcement by Anatoly Bibilov follows his initial reveal on March 30 that the Russian-occupied territory would take steps to join Russia, prompting the Georgian Government to denounce the plan for the referendum as unacceptable. Photo: Reuters
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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 announcement by Anatoly Bibilov follows his initial reveal on March 30 that the Russian-occupied territory would take steps to join Russia, prompting the Georgian Government to denounce the plan for the referendum as unacceptable.
On April 1, United States Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said the US would not recognise the results of any effort by “Russia or its proxies” to “divide sovereign Georgian territory”.
Price condemned Russia’s ongoing occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, called on the Russian Government to end the occupation and fulfil its obligations under the terms of its 2008 ceasefire agreement with Georgia.
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.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said he hoped the recently announced referendum for Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region to join Russia would “not have a continuation”.
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 United States will not recognise the results of any effort by “Russia or its proxies” to “divide sovereign Georgian territory”, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday, following information on plans by Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to hold a referendum on joining 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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a federal law ratifying an agreement on dual citizenship for residents of Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The de facto president of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on Monday suspended a previously announced referendum on whether it should become a part of Russia until "consultations" with Moscow were complete.