The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said on March 13 that it does not recognize “the so called parliamentary elections,” held in Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia.

“The Republic of Azerbaijan does not recognize the so called independence of Abkhazia and consequently, the so called parliamentary elections held in Abkhazia on March 12, 2017 and its results,” the MFA statement said.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry added that “it is necessary to continue negotiations for peaceful resolution of Abkhazia issue in compliance with the norms and principles of international law.”

Voters in Abkhazia cast their ballots on March 12 to elect the region’s 35-member National Assembly.