Georgians and Ossetians should find ways for the reconciliation
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Tuesday, April 11
Georgia’s Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, released a special statement condemning the recent so-called elections in the country’s eastern occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and stressed that despite Russia’s and the de facto leadership’s attempts, Georgians and the people currently living in the breakaway region would find ways to reconcile.
“Any so-called elections or referendums conducted on Georgia’s occupied territories are illegal and have no lawful results,” the PM said.
He stressed the international community has stood by Georgia and condemned the process.
“It’s very important that the international community and certain countries have already expressed a clear position supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and confirmed that they unanimously condemn the illegal elections and referendum in Tskhinvali,” Kvirikashvili stated.
He continued on to say that Georgia assessed the conduction of the referendum over granting a new name to Georgia’s ancient Tskhinvali region, together with the elections, as preparation for the illegal annexation of the region.
“Unfortunately, the Russian Federation creates obstacles in terms of a peaceful resolution to the conflict and prevents the resumption of trust between the societies.
“I believe that we, Georgians and Ossetians, will find ways back towards each other, overcome our estrangement and work together for building our motherland of Georgia,” reads the statement.
The presidential polls, announced on January 17, were held in Tskhinvali on April 9. The referendum on renaming the region into “the Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania” was simultaneously held with the election.
The polls have been rejected by the US, Japan, Ukraine, Poland, as well as by the UN.
Russia recognized the independence of Georgia’s two de facto regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali in the wake of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
