On September 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia issued a statement condemning the elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation held on the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia. The Georgian Foreign Ministry believes that holding such elections is supposedly another destructive step by Moscow, directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia regards this statement by the Georgian Foreign Ministry as open interference in the internal affairs of the Abkhaz state.

Participation in elections to the legislative body of the Russian Federation is the legal right of citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia who have citizenship of the Russian Federation or citizens of the Russian Federation permanently residing in the Republic of Abkhazia, as well as citizens of the Russian Federation temporarily staying in the country. The exercise by these categories of citizens of their suffrage does not violate fundamental international legal norms and does not contradict the UN Charter.

The Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation, developing allied relations on a solid legal basis, fully comply with their international obligations. Relations between Abkhazia and Russia are not directed against third countries and do not infringe on the interests of Georgia. It is hardly necessary to consider the holding of voting for elections of deputies of the State Duma of Russia as a threat to Tbilisi and to believe that it somehow violates the rights of citizens of Georgia.

It is time for the Georgian authorities to stop speculating about their "territorial integrity" and pretend to be an innocent victim. We hope that a responsible and realistic approach to the current political reality, which presupposes a respectful attitude towards the Republic of Abkhazia, will prevail in Tbilisi.