Record support for Georgia's sovereignty
From the Georgian perspective, supporting the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty goes hand in hand with not recognising the two separatist regions of Georgia as independent states. Therefore, the UN General Assembly resolution, passed on 4 June and reiterating the right of all displaced persons and refugees to return to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, represents significant international support.
Surprisingly, despite the strained relationship between the Georgian government and its Western allies over the 'foreign influence' law, the resolution received a record-high support with more than 100 votes in favour.
Traditionally, the resolution's supporters and co-sponsors included the US, EU member states, and Ukraine. This year, history was made when South Africa, Argentina, and Armenia supported the resolution. Notably, Armenia's altered stance was significant, as it had previously either voted against or abstained due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This shift is largely seen as an effort by Armenia to distance itself from Russian political influence.
Conversely, China, which became Georgia’s strategic partner in 2023, abstained from voting. This abstention caused outrage in civil society, while members of the ruling party rebranded China’s abstention as its form of ”support”.
Since the early 1990s, the separation line, a de facto boundary established in the aftermath of the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War and the Russo-Georgian War, has divided Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia from the rest of Georgia. However, it wasn't until over a decade later, after the brief but intense five-day Russo-Georgian War in 2008 and the Kremlin's recognition of these two breakaway regions as independent states, that the conflict gained significant international attention.
As of 2008, Georgia has annually submitted the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) resolution to the UN General Assembly for a vote. This resolution has consistently garnered support from Western allies, ensuring that the two separatist regions remain unrecognised internationally despite backing from Kremlin allies who support the Russian-backed de facto regimes.
According to the Georgian foreign ministry, the resolution carries practical implications. It mandates the UN secretary-general to prepare an annual report on the situation of displaced persons in Georgia and the implementation of the resolution. This annual reporting helps maintain international focus on the issue and underscores Georgia's ongoing efforts to address the displacement of over 277,000 people caused by Russia's illegal occupation of Georgian territory.