Ruling party head highlights “successful” non-recognition policy for Russian-occupied territories

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Georgian Government was “successfully implementing” the policy of non-recognition of the country’s Russian-occupied territories by foreign countries, and noted “no statement can prevent us from doing so”.

Kobakhidze’s comment followed a statement by Grigory Karasin, the Chairperson of the International Relations Committee of the Council of the Russian Federation, who on Tuesday said Russia was “doing everything possible to encourage other countries, including China and India, to move towards the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia”, in reference to the two occupied regions.

While the Georgian official said he would not respond in detail to the statement, he made a comment on the overall stance of the Government on the matter.

Despite the statements, we will continue to carry out a successful non-recognition policy. We have heard such statements, but despite everything, our policy of non-recognition has been successful”, Kobakhidze said.

The ruling party head also stressed Georgia’s newly signed strategic partnership with China was a “great achievement”, and added “everything will be done to further deepen the cooperation with China in all directions”.