The U.S. Department of State said that it "does not recognize the legitimacy or the outcome of... so-called presidential elections and referendum that were held in Georgia’s South Ossetia region" on November 13.

"We reiterate our strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and we, again, urge Russia to fulfill all of its obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement, including withdrawal of forces to pre-conflict positions and free access to humanitarian assistance to the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia," the Department of State said on November 14.