Sweden, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Austria, US condemn illegal holding of Russian “elections” in Georgia’s occupied regions
Russia has been holding the presidential elections from March 15 to March 17, while also opening illegal voting stations in occupied regions of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Sweden, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Austria, as well as James O'Brien, the Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of State for European and Eurasian Affairs condemned the illegal holding of the Russian presidential “elections” from March 15 to March 17 in Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and occupied territories of Moldova and Ukraine.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry called the organisation of polling stations in occupied regions Russia's “blatant violation of international law”, with Swedish Ambassador in Georgia Anna Lyberg reiterating her country’s “full support” for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
In a social media post, the Romanian MFA emphasised that Russia’s actions “are illegal and violate international law”. At the same time, the country’s Ambassador to Georgia Răzvan Rotundu expressed his support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister noted Russia’s organisation of “sham elections” against the will of the Georgian and Moldovan governments was “another assault on the sovereignty of its neighbours and the United Nations Charter”.
In its turn, the Latvian foreign office said Latvia would not recognise the illegal holding of the Russian presidential “election” and “their results” in Russia-occupied regions of Georgia and Moldova.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry “firmly condemned sham elections” and stressed that “their results lack any legitimacy”.
In his social media post, James O'Brien, the Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, also condemned Russia’s actions. “The Kremlin again tramples on these nations’ sovereignty and territorial integrity”, he stressed.
Russia has been holding the presidential elections from March 15 to March 17, while also opening illegal voting stations in occupied regions of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.