Reacting to recent electoral events in Georgia, Congress President, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström declared: 'The 'de facto' authorities of the Abkhazia region in Georgia have just organised elections. In the meantime, the self-proclaimed 'President' of South Ossetia has announced that a referendum will be held in April on the name to be given to this region.

These initiatives are illegal and will do nothing to help restore Georgia's legitimate sovereignty over these two regions, but will just contribute to further isolating these regions from the international community.' 'The Congress of the Council of Europe has always shown its commitment to the territorial integrity of member states and we believe that this integrity is the first guarantee of a positive development of the regional dimension in our countries' concluded the Congress President.