In a resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) on the honoring of obligations and commitments by Russia, the PACE urged Moscow to “constructively contribute” to the resolution of the Abkhazia and South Ossetian conflicts.

“With regard to treating neighbouring and other countries in the region as zones of special influence, [the PACE urges Russia to] denounce as wrong the policy of the 'near abroad', constructively contribute to the resolution of open issues and cease with activities, such as the issuing of Russian passports to inhabitants of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which may – directly or indirectly – undermine these countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the PACE resolution reads.

The Assembly also urged Russia “co-operate with the Georgian authorities in order to create conditions for the voluntary return of Meskhetian Turks to the regions from which they were forcefully deported” in 1944.