Georgian Policy Of Abkhazia, South Ossetia Non-Recognition Successful - Parliament Speaker

TBILISI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th August, 2018) Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze called on Sunday the country's policy on the non-recognition of independence of the two breakaway republics, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, successful.

The breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s. Tbilisi still considers the republics part of its territory. Ten years ago, on August 26, 2008, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Subsequently, the republics were recognized by several other states.

"We are actively pursuing a policy of non-recognition [of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia]. The parliament of Georgia is also actively involved in this process, and personally I had meetings with colleagues and partners on this issue, and we believe that overall our policy is successful," Kobakhidze told reporters.

On August 7, 2008, Georgia launched a military offensive against its breakaway region of South Ossetia and then partially destroyed its capital, Tskhinvali. Russia sent troops to South Ossetia in an attempt to protect local residents, many of whom were Russian nationals. After five days of hostilities, Russia managed to expel Georgian troops from the partially-recognized republic.

South Ossetia has since been recognized by six UN member states (Nauru, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, Tuvalu, and Venezuela), though Tuvalu withdrew its recognition of the republic in 2014. Abkhazias independence has been recognized by seven UN member states (Nauru, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Venezuela). Tuvalu and Vanuatu, however, subsequently withdrew their recognition.