Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili expressed “extreme concern” over “illegal referendum” held in Crimea on March 16 and said that it was contrary to the Ukrainian constitution and its outcome cannot be treated as legitimate.
 
“Moreover, it is unimaginable to speak about free choice and free expression of people’s will, where the situation is controlled by foreign, namely Russian, armed formations,” Margvelashvili said in a written statement on March 17.

“Georgia knows it only too well what such action means. The Russian Federation enforces occupation of parts of Georgian territory – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region – through such ‘referendums’ and ‘elections’,” the statement reads.

“Like the international community, the Georgian authorities do not recognize the so called referendum in Crimea, do not recognize the results of this illegal referendum and support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” President Margvelashvili said.