Georgia joins over 50 countries at UN to condemn Russia's illegitimate elections in Ukraine’s occupied areas

Georgia on Friday joined a joint statement of over 50 countries at the United Nations that “condemns in the strongest terms” Russia’s illegitimate attempts to organise Russian presidential elections in temporarily occupied areas within the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine.

The statement noted that holding elections in another UN member state’s territory without its consent was “in manifest disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity and such elections have no validity under international law”.

We demand the Russian Federation refrain from holding illegitimate elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. We reiterate the General Assembly’s call for the Russian Federation to stop its war of aggression against Ukraine and to immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders”, the statement said.

The joint statement reaffirmed “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, extending to its territorial waters.