“Georgian Dream” has decided to abolish the administration of the administrative-territorial unit established on the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region.

This decision was announced during a briefing by the Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili.

At the same time, as Papuashvili stated, the municipalities of Akhalgori, Kurt, Tighvi, and Eredvi will continue to function. According to him, these municipalities were elected in full compliance with the Constitution in 2006.

“I would like to remind the public that in November 2006, under the government of the United National Movement, unconstitutional elections were held in the Tskhinvali region, resulting in the declaration of the so-called ‘President of South Ossetia’ and the formation of the so-called ‘alternative government of South Ossetia.’ By this step, the then-government indirectly legitimized separatist processes, which was a clear and serious betrayal of Georgia’s national interests.

A few months later, in June 2007, again in violation of the Constitution, a ‘Temporary Administration of the Administrative-Territorial Unit’ was established based on the same unconstitutional ‘alternative government.’ This decision artificially restored the administrative boundaries of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region, which had been abolished in 1990, and later became one of the contributing factors to the 2008 Russian military aggression and the occupation of Georgia’s historic region of Samachablo.

From today’s perspective, it is clear that these decisions were part of a geopolitical game by external forces, in which Georgia was treated as a ‘sacrificial pawn.’ The policies implemented by Saakashvili escalated the situation in the region and ultimately led the country to war.

Against this backdrop, members of the Georgian Parliament assessed this decision as a gross betrayal of Georgia’s national interests, which is reflected in a constitutional claim requesting the unconstitutional declaration of the United National Movement. It must be emphasized that while Georgia has been working for years to strengthen its non-recognition policy, even the indirect use of the term ‘South Ossetia’ by the United National Movement regime was from the outset a violation of the Constitution and national interests. There is no ‘South Ossetia’ in the Georgian legal or political space.

Accordingly, following consultations with the government, we made the decision to abolish the ‘Administration of the Administrative-Territorial Unit established on the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region.’

It should also be emphasized that the municipalities of Akhalgori, Kurt, Tighvi, and Eredvi will continue to function. These municipalities were elected in full compliance with the Constitution in 2006. They are the only legitimately elected and functioning authorities in the Tskhinvali region, and thus represent the only legal continuation of Georgia’s legal and constitutional framework,” said Papuashvili.