Breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia reject Georgian PM’s remarks on territorial integrity

Breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia have responded to a recent statement by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who on Sunday reiterated his ruling party’s stance that with patience and consistent policy, any goal is achievable—including the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity.

The de facto Foreign Ministry of South Ossetia rejected Kobakhidze’s remarks, calling them “unacceptable” and dismissing any proposals for renewed dialogue with Tbilisi.

“South Ossetia is committed to building an independent state and has no intention of changing its development path or aspirations. Strengthening ties with our security guarantor—the Russian Federation—remains a key priority,” the ministry said in a statement. It added that South Ossetia’s position reflects the will of its people, as enshrined in its so-called constitution.

The statement further noted that the lack of progress in international discussions on security guarantees for South Ossetia and Abkhazia, combined with comments like Kobakhidze’s, “do not contribute to regional stability.”

Meanwhile, the breakaway authorities in Abkhazia also issued a response, stating that future relations with Georgia could only be built on “good neighborliness and mutual respect.”

“Statements from Georgia’s leadership about restoring territorial integrity suggest an unwillingness to move past outdated approaches that no longer reflect the current reality. Instead of declarations, we would prefer to see a genuine willingness for constructive dialogue and compromise, which could pave the way for peaceful and mutually beneficial relations,” the Abkhaz de facto authorities said.