U.S. does not recognize legitimacy of elections in Abkhazia

The U.S. won’t recognize the results of last week’s election in Abkhazia, the second time the separatist region has chosen a president since Russia recognized its independence from Georgia three years ago, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said today.

“The U.S. does not recognize the legitimacy of the Aug. 26 elections in Abkhazia,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said today. The U.S. urges Russia “to pull its forces back to pre-conflict positions,” Nuland said, Bloomberg reports.

Vice President Alexander Ankvab won the former Georgian province’s presidential poll after securing 55 percent of the vote, the Abkhaz state news agency Apsnypress said Aug. 27, citing Election Commission data.

The European Union and NATO issued statements saying they don’t recognize the result and support the sovereignty of Georgia.