Georgia's Foreign Ministry Condemns Russian Presidential Elections in Occupied Regions
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia strongly condemned the Russian Federation's holding of presidential elections in the occupied regions of Georgia and the establishment of illegal polling stations to involve the local population on a massive scale.
The released statement by the foreign ministry reads that this act constitutes a blatant violation of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity by Russia, grossly disregarding fundamental principles and norms of international law, as well as the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.
As per the ministry, conducting elections in the occupied regions is unlawful in the context of the ongoing occupation. Moreover, it occurs while the population expelled from these territories due to ethnic cleansing remains unable to return to their homes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia urged the Russian Federation to cease its actions undermining Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to fulfill its international obligations, including the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement brokered by the European Union.
Furthermore, the Ministry called upon the international community to provide a proper assessment and respond to Russia's continued illegal actions in the occupied regions, which aim to erode Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"Conducting any elections in the occupied regions is illegal against the backdrop of the ongoing occupation, as established by international courts, among others, especially considering that the population expelled from these territories due to ethnic cleansing still lacks the opportunity to return to their homes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls upon the Russian Federation to cease its actions against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and to fulfill its international obligations, including the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, brokered by the European Union.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia appeals to the international community to provide a proper assessment and respond to Russia's further illegal actions in the occupied regions, which aim to violate Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement reads.
