Georgian foreign office condemns holding of “parliamentary elections” in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region

The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned a holding of “parliamentary elections” in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on Sunday as a “blatant violation” of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country within its internationally recognised borders.

The Ministry said “any so-called elections” held in the Russian-occupied regions were “illegal and cannot not have any legal effect as they contradict the fundamental principles and norms of international law”.

The body noted individuals who had been forced to flee from the occupied territories and internally displaced people were still unable to return to their homes, while those remaining on the ground were “forced to live under violations of their basic human rights and freedoms”.

It also called on Russian authorities to “cease actions violating Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, fulfil international commitments taken up by the country, including in the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement, and withdraw its forces from Georgia’s territory.