Georgia and International Community Condemn So-Called Parliamentary Elections in Occupied Tskhinvali Region
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, June 10, 2024
The so-called parliamentary elections are taking place in the occupied Tskhinvali region. The "elections" are being held under a mixed, majoritarian-proportional system: 34 so-called MPs are elected, with half from party lists and the other half from majoritarian constituencies. The parties must overcome a 7% threshold.
Seventy-three polling stations have been opened in 17 districts, including Vladikavkaz and Moscow.
Georgian authorities and the international community have condemned these elections as illegitimate and in violation of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry's statement, these elections grossly violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.
"In conditions where internally displaced persons and refugees from the occupied territories of Georgia are not given the opportunity to return to their homes, and the remaining population has to live in conditions where basic rights and freedoms are violated, any so-called elections held in the occupied territories are illegal and cannot produce any legal results, contradicting the fundamental norms and principles of international law.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the Russian Federation to stop the actions that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, to fulfill its international obligations, including the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, brokered by the European Union, and to withdraw its troops from the territory of Georgia," the statement reads.
Several of Georgia's international partners have condemned the so-called "parliamentary elections" in a breakaway region.
"The European Union does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework in which the so-called 'parliamentary elections' took place in Georgia|s occupied breakaway region of South Ossetia. The EU remains firm in its support to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," wrote European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano.
"We condemn the so-called 'parliamentary elections' in occupied Georgia's Tskhinvali region and call on the Russian Federation to fulfill its obligations under the 12 August 2008 cease-fire agreement to withdraw its occupation forces from the territory of Georgia," stated Gabrielius Landsbergis, Foreign Minister of Lithuania.
"The so-called parliamentary elections in the temporarily uncontrolled Tskhinvali region of Georgia are a clear violation of international law. We support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia," asserted Mihai Popsoi, Foreign Minister of Moldova.
"Estonia condemns the illegitimate parliamentary elections in #Georgia's South Ossetia region. It breaches the August 2008 ceasefire agreement & its implementing measures.
Estonia supports Georgia's sovereignty & territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," declared Estonia's Foreign Ministry.
"Latvia strongly condemns holding of the so-called parliamentary elections in the South Ossetia region of Georgia under the occupation of the Russian Federation
Latvia strongly condemns holding of the so-called parliamentary elections on 9 June in the South Ossetia region of Georgia that is under the occupation of the Russian Federation. Latvia does not recognise either the legitimacy of the elections, or their results. Latvia reiterates its strong support for the sovereignty of Georgia and its territorial integrity within the internationally recognised borders.
Latvia calls for Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria to revoke their recognition of the so-called statehood of Georgia's regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as calls for Russia to end the occupation of these regions, respecting all of its obligations stemming from the 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement," read a statement from the Latvian Foreign Ministry.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan reaffirms its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and does not recognize the so-called "parliamentary elections" held on 9 June 2024 in the Tskhinvali region of Georgia and their results," stated the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.
