Georgia condemns election held in breakaway region of South Ossetia

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Georgia on Sunday condemned an election held in its breakaway region of South Ossetia.

"In the conditions when internally displaced persons and refugees from the occupied territories of Georgia are deprived of the possibility to return to their homes, and the remaining population has to live in conditions of violation of their basic rights and freedoms, any so-called the election is illegal and cannot produce any legal results, it is against the fundamental norms and principles of international law,” a Georgian Foreign Ministry statement said.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls upon the Russian Federation to cease the actions that violate Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, to fulfill its undertaken international obligations inter alia the EU mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, and withdraw its forces from Georgia’s territory,” the statement added.

In 2008, a five-day conflict broke out between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia ultimately lost control of both areas, and Russia later recognized them as independent states, leading to Tbilisi cutting off diplomatic relations with Moscow. Both regions remain internationally recognized Georgian territories.

South Ossetia held a parliamentary election on Sunday.