International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Aslan Bzhania, the president of Abkhazia, has stepped down following discussions with the opposition, according to a Telegram message and a signed document reported by Reuters. His resignation comes after widespread protests in the region, sparked by a controversial investment agreement signed with Moscow.

Bulgaria has taken a firm stance against the recent Russian presidential elections held in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine, including Transnistria, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. In a statement released on social media, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong condemnation of these elections.

Ljubljana – Slovenia’s officials strongly condemned Russia’s recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent entities. Prime Minister Janez Janša called for the EU to offer Ukraine the prospect of full membership. Slovenia is also ready to support the country’s membership of the EU.

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria in a joint statement on Oct. 29.

Turkey is committed to defending Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Russia's foreign minister on March 6.       

Ankara fully supports the territorial integrity of neighboring Georgia, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated on May 30, following the Syrian regime's decision to recognize the breakaway Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. 

the administration of the president of Abkhazia also announced that Syria has recognized its independence, Sputnik in Serbian reported on Tuesday.

"Abkhazia and Syria have announced the mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the embassy level, reflecting their common aspiration to develop relations in all areas," the document says.

Turkish National Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli on May 26 said his country believes Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia disputes can be resolved on the basis of the country's internationally recognized borders. Canikli was in the Georgian capital Tbilisi to attend events on the country's 100th anniversary of its foundation.

Georgia has sent a protest note to Bosnia and Herzegovina over the visit of the head of the breakaway South Ossetia region to Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity, Republika Srpska.

South Ossetia is a breakaway state from Georgia - financed, defended and effectively controlled by Moscow, while the Republika Srpska is an autonomous entity of Bosnia.

Russia, Turkey and Iran have “full understanding” of countering terrorism and preserving Syria’s territorial integrity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Dec. 15.