Tbilisi Condemns Opening of Polling Stations in Abkhazia, S.Ossetia for Russia’s Election

Georgian Foreign Ministry said opening of polling stations in breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for the elections of Russia’s lower house of parliament, State Duma, is “manifestation of Moscow’s annexation policy.”

Russia made those residents of the breakaway regions, who hold Russian passports, eligible to vote in its elections. The polling stations were also opened in the breakaway regions for Russia’s 2011 parliamentary, as well as 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.

Nine polling stations were opened in Abkhazia and ten in South Ossetia for the September 18 State Duma elections, according to the breakaway regions’ authorities. Several thousand Russian troops, stationed in the breakaway regions, are also casting ballot in the Sunday’s election.

Abkhaz leader, Raul Khajimba, and some other Abkhaz officials, including PM Beslan Bartsits cast ballot in Russia’s State Duma elections at one of the polling stations in Sokhumi.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on September 18 that it “condemns holding the elections to the Russian State Duma in Georgia’s occupied regions as another manifestation of Moscow’s annexation policy, which grossly violates fundamental norms of international law.”

“Through the aforementioned actions, the Russian Federation neglects the essential principles, enshrined in the UN Charter, such as inviolability of internationally recognized borders and non-interference in domestic affairs,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said and called on the international community “to give proper assessment and react to another illegal action of the Russian Federation in the occupied regions, aimed at violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.”

It also said that Moscow started “the process of illegal, forced passportization” – referring to distribution of Russian passports in the breakaway regions, in early 2000s.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)