Statement on the so-called Presidential election and referendum in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia

The European Union refused on 8 April 2017 to recognise the framework in which the so-called Presidential election and the referendum on amending the name of the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia.

The EU reiterated its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

• Primary Source

EP: EPRS: Briefing, February 2017: Georgia: European engagement in an unstable environment http://www.europeansources.info/record/georgia-european-engagement-in-an-unstable-environment/

TASS, 10.04.17: Putin congratulates Bibilov on winning South Ossetian presidential election http://tass.com/politics/940547

ESO: Background information: South Ossetia’s unification referendum poses a dilemma for both Georgia and Russia http://www.europeansources.info/record/south-ossetias-unification-referendum-poses-a-dilemma-for-both-georgia-and-russia/

TASS, 10.04.17: Abkhazia to support any choice of South Ossetian people http://tass.com/world/940545

The Baltic Times, 10.04.17: Estonia considers South Ossetian elections and referendum unlawful http://www.baltictimes.com/estonia_considers_south_ossetian_elections_and_referendum_unlawful/

Sputnik International, 10.04.17: EU Refuses to Recognize Presidential Election, Referendum in South Ossetia https://sptnkne.ws/ecQG

Agenda.ge, 10.04.17: Estonia, Ukraine denounce illegal elections, referendum in occupied Tskhinvali http://agenda.ge/news/77506/eng

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