STATEMENT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF GEORGIA

On many occasions, the International Community and the Parliament of Georgia have expressed their unambiguous position – while tow thirds of the population of Abkhazia are in exile, any elections at any level held in Abkhazia will be considered as illegal, null and void. Despite the aforementioned, the Sukhumi regime continues ignoring concerns and points of view of the UN, OSCE, and major States and intends to hold elections of the so called national Assembly – Parliament of Abkhazia on March 2, 2002.

It goes without saying that holding elections in Abkhazia is an ill-conceived farce aiming to smoke-screen the factual lawlessness and anarchy reining in Abkhazia – to create conducive environment for illegal trafficking of human beings and weapons, drug-business and terrorism and thereby turning part of Georgia into the space of authoritarian rule.

The Parliament of Georgia hopes that this unlawful election, as well as complete lawlessness prevailing in Abkhazia currently, will attract adequate attention and response on the part of the UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.

Tbilisi, 28 February, 2002

(Archive of the Parliament of Georgia)