US Department of State: Neither de facto authorities nor the Russian Government have the right to make decisions about the future of South Ossetia, which is part of Georgia

01/04/2022

14:02

Policy

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“When it comes to Georgia and South Ossetia, we condemn Russia’s ongoing occupations of – occupation of parts of Georgia. We call on Russia to cease its occupation of the Georgian region of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and fulfill its obligations under the 2008 ceasefire with Georgia to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions,” - Ned Price, Spokesperson for the US State Department, during his daily press briefing in response to a question about the position of the Department regarding the referendum planned in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.

“Neither de facto authorities nor the Russian Government have the right to make decisions about the future of South Ossetia, which is part of Georgia. Just as the United States did not recognize Russia’s illegal seizure and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, and just as we did not recognize the Kremlin’s cynical attempt to recognize independence of the so-called DNR and LNR in eastern Ukraine just before it launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, we will not recognize the results of any effort by Russia or its proxies to divide sovereign Georgian territory. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” Ned Price declared.

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