EU and NATO don’t recognize Abkhazian statehood and elections

Both the EU and NATO have denounced the elections in the breakaway region of Abkhazia in Georgia that were held on 26 August. The acting president, a pro-Russian businessman Alexander Ankvab, was elected president with more than 54% of votes and immediately confirmed commitment to further strengthening Russian-Abkhazian relations.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that the European Union did not recognise the statehood of Abkhazia and therefore the legal framework within which the elections took place.

She reiterated the EU’s “support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, as recognised by international law”.

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said that, as far as Parliament was concerned, Abkhazia remained “an autonomous region part of Georgia” and reconfirmed the Parliament’s commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.