The U.S. Department of State said it does not recognize “the legitimacy of these so-called presidential elections” held in breakaway Abkhazia on August 24 and “will not acknowledge their outcome.”

“Our position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain clear: these regions are integral parts of Georgia,” State Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki, said on August 25. “We once again urge Russia to fulfill all of its obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement, including withdrawal of its forces to pre-conflict positions, reversal of its recognition of the Georgian regions as independent states, and provision of free access for humanitarian assistance to these regions.”

“We renew our full support for the Geneva international discussions as a means to achieving concrete progress on security and humanitarian issues that continue to impact the communities on the ground in Georgia,” she said.