Georgian MFA Condemns Sokhumi, Tskhinvali Leaders’ Visit to Venezuela

Georgian Foreign Ministry denounced the visit of Anatoly Bibilov and Raul Khajimba, Moscow-backed leaders of Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and Abkhazia, respectively, for the inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.

In a statement on January 10, the MFA stressed the visit “serves to legitimize the ongoing occupation and ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions through demonstrating the so-called independence of the two regions.”

“These illegal attempts will have no consequences; the international community is unanimous in supporting Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-recognition policy of the occupied territories. States that engage in any form with illegal regimes based in Georgia’s occupied territories, are blatantly violating fundamental norms and principles of international law,” the statement reads.

The MFA also noted that Georgia “does not recognize legitimacy of the Venezuelan President’s new mandate.” “Georgia as a responsible member of the international community, does not recognize results of the Venezuelan presidential elections of May 20, 2018, which was held in clearly unjust, unfair and undemocratic manner,” it said.

Anatoly Bibilov and Raul Khajimba traveled to Venezuela to attend Maduro’s second term inauguration on January 10. In Caracas, Khajimba and Bibilov held a meeting with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, as well as the President of El Salvador, Salvador Sanchez Ceren.

Venezuela recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2009. Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria are the four other nations that also recognize the two regions’ independence from Georgia.

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