Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the so-called Presidential elections in the occupied breakaway region of South Ossetia

The European Union does not recognise the constitutional and legal frameworks, including their recent amendments, under which the so-called Presidential elections were organized in Georgia’s occupied breakaway region of South Ossetia on 18 September 2026. Their outcome is null and void. The European Union strongly condemns the actions undertaken by Moscow to have a Russian official appointed as de facto President of the occupied breakaway South Ossetia region of Georgia, deplores the signing of the so-called treaty on “Deepening of Allied Interaction” on 9 May 2026, and strongly condemns the continued Russian attempts at consolidating their control by incorporating South Ossetia into Russia’s political, military, economic, and judicial spheres. These measures run counter to peaceful conflict resolution and represent steps towards future illegal annexation of the occupied breakaway region by Russia. Such actions systematically entrench division, endanger regional security and stability, and grossly violate international law. The European Union reaffirms its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Georgia, including through its co-chairmanship of the Geneva Internat...