Abkhazia and South Ossetia have ruled out rescinding Venezuela's recognition of their independence.

In response to events in Venezuela, the Georgian Foreign Ministry proposed reconsidering the Venezuelan authorities' decision to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Abkhazia called the proposal baseless, while South Ossetia affirmed the legality of the Venezuelan authorities' decision.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, on August 7, 2021, five states—Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Slovakia—as well as individual members of the European Parliament and members of the US Senate, expressed their support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, timing this statement to coincide with the anniversary of the start of the Five-Day War. On August 4 of that year, seven countries (France, the United States, Great Britain, Norway, Ireland, Estonia, and Albania) called on Russia to revoke its recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Georgia called on Venezuela to reverse its decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia

11:31 18.12.2025

Georgian Parliament Abolishes South Ossetian Administration-in-Exile

Parliament approved the decision to abolish the administration of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region effective January 1, 2026.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in connection with the events in Venezuela, expressing hope that they will lead to the Venezuelan authorities rescinding their recognition of Georgia's occupied regions, Interpressnews reported on January 4.

"Considering the fact that the Venezuelan authorities, in gross violation of international law, recognized the occupied regions of Georgia—Abkhazia and the so-called "We express hope that recent events will lead to the reversal of this illegal decision in accordance with Georgia's national interests and international legal principles," the agency quoted the department as saying.

Abkhazia stated that it does not consider international recognition an end in itself

Attempts by Georgian politicians to interpret international processes to their own advantage cannot change Abkhazia's status as a sovereign state, Abkhazia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Odyssey Bigvava, stated today.

"The recognition of the independence of the Republic of Abkhazia by a number of states, including the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, represents the exercise of their sovereign right to pursue an independent foreign policy," Apsnypress quoted him as saying today.

Abkhazia does not view international recognition "as an end in itself," Bigvava emphasized. "The main focus is on strengthening statehood institutions, ensuring sustainable socio-economic development, maintaining security, and expanding diplomatic contacts based on mutual respect and equality. Support from the Russian Federation and other friendly states contributes to strengthening stability and the development of Abkhazia without replacing the will of its people. Statements about a so-called "non-recognition policy" or about a possible revision of the decisions of states that have recognized Abkhazia's independence have no legal basis," the Foreign Ministry representative noted.

South Ossetia insists on the legality of the Venezuelan government's decision

The issue of recognition or non-recognition "is the sovereign right of each of the parties," the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry representative also stated, commenting on the Georgian Foreign Ministry's statement on the situation in Venezuela.

"The decision of the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which responded to requests from the governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia for recognition, following the Russian Federation and "The Republic of Nicaragua, having confirmed the international legal personality of the Republic of South Ossetia, is beyond doubt," the state-run news agency "Res" quoted him as saying today.

00:57 18.07.2025

Putin authorized the issuance of Russian passports in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with Russian citizenship will be able to obtain Russian passports within the next three years.

The legality of the Venezuelan leadership's decision "cannot be discussed" and does not require "third-party assessment," the Foreign Ministry representative added.

"Our relations with the Latin American country are built on the basis of international law and are enshrined in bilateral agreements. South Ossetia continues to contact its Venezuelan colleagues and expresses hope for a speedy normalization of the situation," he stated.

Recall that representatives of the US, the European Union, and NATO have repeatedly issued statements in support of Georgia's territorial integrity. Thus, on July 7, 2019, the Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe adopted a resolution proposed by Georgia calling on Russia to reverse its decision to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

On August 8, 2025, on the 17th anniversary of the start of the Five-Day War, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the war in 2008 began not as a defensive operation by Georgia against Russia, but as an escalation of the conflict following the "unprovoked offensive on Tskhinvali" by the "then regime," citing President Mikheil Saakashvili's decree on the introduction of martial law.