15 countries react to ‘presidential elections’ in occupied Abkhazia
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America 'do not recognise the legitimacy’ of the so-called ‘presidential elections’. Photo: Adjara TV.
Tweet 
Share
Fifteen countries have reacted to the ‘presidential elections’ in Georgia’s Russian occupied region of Abkhazia and said they ‘do not recognise the legitimacy’ of the so-called ‘presidential elections’.
These countries are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
We reiterate our full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders, and remain deeply concerned over the continued occupation of the territory of Georgia,” says the announcement of these countries.
The countries urged Russia to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement signed in 2008 including the “withdrawal of its forces to their positions prior to the outbreak of hostilities and the provision of free access for humanitarian assistance to these regions.”
We also call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” says the joint announcement of the countries.
Estonia ???????? together with ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? condemns the so-called presidential elections in occupied Abkhazia. We reiterate our full support for the territorial integrity & sovereignty of #Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
— Estonian MFA ???????? (@MFAestonia) March 22, 2020
➡️https://t.co/O0YgJxEmgy
So-called repeat ‘presidential elections’ took place in Abkhazia on March 22, 2020, after a de facto court in the region announced the previous ‘elections’ as illegitimate.
Abkhazia’s former leader Raul Khajimba resigned soon after the de facto court ruling.
Three candidates were participating in the race for the de facto Abkhaz ‘presidency’ including Adgur Ardzinba, Aslan Bzhania and Leonid Dzapshba.
Aslan Bzhania won the ‘elections’ with more than 56 per cent of the votes.
The two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) have been recognised as ‘independent states’ only by Russia, Venezuela, Nikaragua, Nauru and Syria since the Russia-Georgia 2008 war. The rest of the international community recognises both regions as integral parts of Georgia.