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Sweden's Delegation toOSCE, Vienna

Local time 10:25 AM

Joint statement of the Group of Friends of Georgia

23 Mar 2020

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 recognize the legitimacy of the so-called “presidential elections” held in Georgia’s Abkhazia region on March 22, 2020.

We reiterate our full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, and remain deeply concerned over the continued occupation of the territory of Georgia.

We once again urge Russia to fulfill all of its obligations under the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement, 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.

We give our full support to negotiations in the framework of the Geneva International Discussions.

Last updated 23 Mar 2020, 11.13 AM