16 countries refuse to recognize elections in Abkhazia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijani declared the election of the President of Abkhazia illegitimate and expressed its support for the sovereignty of Georgia. Similar statements were released by 15 western countries.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 25, the voting took place at the presidential election in Abkhazia. None of the candidates was able to get the required number of votes, and the second round was scheduled for September 8. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia condemns the election in Abkhazia.

"Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States do not recognize the legitimacy of the so-called 'presidential election' held in Georgia's Abkhazia region," announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland on its website.

Authors of the statement called on Russia to reverse its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

Whoever wins the election, Russia will build "good neighbourly relations" with Abkhazia, declared Vladimir Djabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs.

"We recognized Abkhazia back in 2008, and our policy towards it has not changed," stated Vladimir Djabarov as quoted by the TASS.