"The Russian Federation, in gross violation of the principles of international law, has been forcibly granting Russian passports to the population living in the occupied regions of Georgia since the early 2000s as an illegitimate step, a hybrid tool against Georgia.

The international community is unwavering in support of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty slamming unlawful passport issuance as a step towards annexation,” – the Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson, Mari Narchemashvili, said in a statement.

To be reminded, on March 14, the Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted an agreement simplifying the acquisition of Russian citizenship by “citizens” of so-called South Ossetia to the State Duma for ratification. The 2021-signed document allows citizens to acquire other country’s nationality without renouncing their citizenship.