MOSCOW. Dec 5 (Interfax-AVN) - Moscow criticized the participation of Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Merab Antadze in the inaugural ceremony of Dmitry Sanakoyev, the winner of "alternative presidential elections" in South Ossetia.
"Such counterproductive measures resemble Tbilisi's actions in the upper Kodori Gorge this summer, which resulted in a serious escalation of the conflict and the Abkhaz refusal from direct contacts with Georgian negotiators until the 'alternative' authorities are withdrawn," a statement by the information and press department at the Russian Foreign Ministry obtained by Interfax on Tuesday says.
"The participation of the Georgian state minister and the Georgian co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) in an attempt to attach legitimacy to the 'alternative' elections is perplexing and challenges the seriousness of Georgian intentions to continue the Georgia-South Ossetian settlement in a constructive cooperation manner," the statement says.
"We are surprised by the participation of a Georgian representative in the inauguration of Sanakoyev to the position of South Ossetian president. It is a common fact that not only local residents, but also people in South Ossetia and Georgia did not support the so-called 'alternative elections,' which were aimed at discrediting democratic electoral standards established in the breakaway republic in line with international standards," the ministry said.
"Georgia persists with its previous policy, thus creating new obstacles on the way to settlement, now in South Ossetia," the ministry said.
"This proves that our contacts with Georgia at high levels and at the highest levels did not bring positive results," the statement says.