The initiative that envisages abolishing the temporary administrative-territorial unit and its administration on the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous District has been submitted to Parliament.

The liquidation of the administration will take place starting January 1, 2026.

By decision of the parliamentary majority, two laws are to be repealed: “On creating appropriate conditions for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the former South Ossetian Autonomous District” and “On property restitution and compensation for those affected on the territory of Georgia as a result of the conflict in the former South Ossetian Autonomous District.”

The initiators of the issue are MPs from Georgian Dream.

“In November 2006, under the organization of the United National Movement government, unconstitutional elections were held in the Tskhinvali region, as a result of which the so-called ‘President of South Ossetia’ was announced, and the so-called ‘Alternative Government of South Ossetia’ was formed. With this step, the then-government indirectly granted legitimacy to separatist processes, which was a clear and grave betrayal of Georgia’s national interests.

A few months later, in June 2007, again in violation of the Constitution, the ‘Administration of the Temporary Administrative-Territorial Unit’ was established, based on that same unconstitutional alternative government. With this decision, the administrative boundaries of the South Ossetian Autonomous District - abolished in 1990 - were artificially restored, which later became one of the contributing factors to the 2008 Russian military aggression and the occupation of the historical Georgian 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 assigned the role of a ‘sacrificial pawn.’ The policy implemented by Saakashvili escalated the situation in the region and ultimately led the country to war.

Against this background, Members of the Georgian Parliament evaluated this decision as a harsh betrayal of Georgia’s national interests, which is reflected in the constitutional lawsuit demanding that the United National Movement be declared unconstitutional.

It must be emphasized that at a time when Georgia has for years been strengthening its non-recognition policy, even the indirect use of the term ‘South Ossetia’ by the regime of the United National Movement was from the outset a betrayal of the Constitution and national interests. There is no such thing as ‘South Ossetia’ in Georgia’s legal or political space.

Accordingly, following consultations with the Government, we have decided to abolish the administration of the administrative-territorial unit created on the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous District.

It must also be highlighted that the municipalities of Akhalgori, Kurta, Tighvi and Eredvi - elected in full compliance with the Constitution in 2006 — will continue to function. These municipalities are the only legitimately elected and acting authorities in the Tskhinvali region and thus remain the only lawful continuation of Georgia’s legal and constitutional framework.”

This was stated by the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, at a briefing held today.