Fri, Feb 10 2012

EU joins in rejection of South Ossetia elections

Tue, Jun 02 2009 13:35 CET

byClive Leviev-Sawyer

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EU joins in rejection of South Ossetia elections

CLAIMING VICTORY: South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity at a news conference in Tskhinvali, June 1 2009. Parties supporting the pro-Moscow leader of Georgia's rebel South Ossetia province won the May 31 2009 parliamentary election by a landslide, according to official results.


The European Union does not accept the legality of the elections held in the South Ossetian region of Georgia on May 31 2009, the European Council said in a statement on June 2.
 
"The holding of such elections is illegitimate and represents a setback in the search for a peaceful and lasting settlement of the situation in Georgia. The EU reiterates its firm support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders," the European Council said.
 
Armed conflict broke out in summer 2008 over South Ossetia, where Moscow backs efforts for the region to break away from Georgia.
 
Three parties supporting Eduard Kokoity, the pro-Moscow leader of South Ossetia,were said by official results to have won the parliamentary elections by a landslide, with 91 per cent.

Earlier, US state department deputy spokesperson Robert Wood said that Washington "recognises neither the legality nor the results" of the elections. 

"This represents a step away from a peaceful and negotiated solution to the conflict," Wood said in a June 1 2009 statement. "The US reiterates its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders."

Georgia also formally rejected the elections.

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