Press Release
Council of Europe Office in Georgia
26, Kakabadzeebi Brothers street, 0108 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel.: +995 32 291 38 70 / 71 / 72 / 73
Fax: +995 32 291 38 74
E-mail: informtbilisi@coe.int
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Congress Rapporteurs on Georgia denounce elections in South Ossetia's Tskhinvali region
''The
so-called ''presidential elections'' that took place on 25th March 2012 in the
occupied Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia, cannot be recognised as
legitimate. These elections are illegitimate under international law and no
legal or constitutional basis for these elections exist. Moreover, the holding
of so-called elections lacks legitimacy from human rights and humanitarian
perspectives as well, since two thirds of the local population is forcefully
expelled from their homes as a result of ethnic cleansing'', declared Congress
members Ian Micallef (Malta, EPP/CD) and Helena Pihlajasaari (Finland, SOC) in
the margins of the 22nd Congress Session in Strasbourg. The two country
Rapporteurs reiterated that the right to a safe, dignified and voluntary return
for the refugees and displaced persons should be recognised by all the actors in
the conflict.
For more information see: www.coe.int / www.coe.ge
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Council of Europe Office in Georgia