Breakaway regions reject Georgian PM’s call for unity, signal closer ties with Russia

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have rejected Georgian PM Kobakhidze’s renewed call for reunification, insisting on equality and closer ties with Russia. Tbilisi remains committed to peaceful reintegration, while Moscow signals openness to dialogue under certain conditions.

The foreign affairs bodies of Georgia’s breakaway territories, Abkhazia and the South Ossetia, have pushed back against recent remarks by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who reiterated his government’s commitment to restoring the country’s full territorial integrity.

In separate statements, the secessionist leaders criticized what they described as outdated strategies from Tbilisi, arguing that Georgia’s vision for reintegration does not reflect the current geopolitical reality. Separatist leaders of Abkhazia said any future relations with Georgia would require a foundation of equality and mutual respect, dismissing unilateral efforts to promote reunification.

The response from South Ossetia was more pointed. Its de facto government underscored a strategic priority of building an independent state and strengthening integration with Russia, which it referred to as its primary security partner.

Despite these statements, the Georgian government continues to stress the possibility of eventual unity. Prime Minister Kobakhidze emphasized that progress would come through “patience and a consistent policy,” echoing previous messaging from the ruling Georgian Dream party. 

Moscow, meanwhile, reaffirmed its recognition of the Georgian breakaway regions ofAbkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states but left the door open for facilitating dialogue—only, it stressed, if all parties demonstrate genuine interest.

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