The Georgian Foreign Ministry says the Russian general election in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia and separatist South Ossetia is a "destructive step" by Russia against Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"The Georgian Foreign Ministry condemns holding the 19 September 2021 Russian State Duma election in Georgia's occupied territories and unlawfully setting up about 20 polling stations as yet another destructive step by Moscow against Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which blatantly violates fundamental norms of the international law and completely disregards the UN statute and the Helsinki Final Act," the ministry’s statement declared.
The Georgian ministry also strongly criticised the fact that along with electing Russian parties to the Duma, residents of the breakaway regions also voted for candidates running in single-seat constituencies in Russia's Voronezh, Leningrad, and Samara districts, and Zabaykalsky Territory. According to the ministry, this was a clear indication of the ongoing "de-facto annexation" of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).
The Foreign Ministry went on to note that Russia had continued "forced" passportisation and the occupation of the regions since 2000.
"Any elections held on the ground, let alone elections to the legislature of the occupier country, while hundreds of thousands of forcefully displaced people and refugees are unable to return to their own homes, are unlawful and cannot have any lawful outcome," the statement said.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry again called on Russia to respect international commitments, comply with the 2008 ceasefire deal, withdraw its troops from Georgia, not hamper the deployment of international security mechanisms, and revoke its decision on the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgia also asked the international community to respond to yet another unlawful action by Russia that encroaches on Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The election to the Russian State Duma was held for three days. Russian President Vladimir Putin's party United Russia retained a constitutional majority, the results suggest.
Georgia and Russia fought a brief war in August 2008. After the war Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia also severed diplomatic relations with Russia, which has military bases in both breakaways.
