Parliament Speaker: “elections” in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region have “no legitimacy”

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said “parliamentary elections” held in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region last week had “no legitimacy” as “mock elections”.

Papuashvili said the vote was among “bitter consequences” of the occupation of the region.

The main thing we have to say to our Ossetian fellow citizens and, in general, to all our fellow citizens living in the Tskhinvali region, is that our desire is to have general elections soon, when everyone, the whole of Georgia will be represented in the Parliament”, he said.

When everyone has their voice in the Parliament, through the legislative body we will make Europe hear our common voice and be part of a united family”, the official added.

The lawmaker said the country’s Government was moving towards the objective, adding the “moment will surely come when this Parliament fully reflects the choices of all our fellow citizens”.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry last week condemned the holding of “parliamentary elections” in the region 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”.