Tskhinvali Region and Nicaragua Establish Diplomatic Visa Exemption Agreement

The Tskhinvali region and Nicaragua signed an agreement in Moscow to eliminate visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders. This development highlights Nicaragua’s ongoing recognition of Tskhinvali’s independence, which caused a diplomatic rift with Georgia in 2008. The Georgian government, along with much of the international community, regards such engagements as violations of its sovereignty.

On February 27, officials from the Russian-backed Tskhinvali region, also known as South Ossetia, and Nicaragua convened in Moscow to sign an agreement eliminating visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders. The agreement was established during talks between Akhsar Dzhioev, Tskhinvali’s self-proclaimed foreign minister, and Nicaragua’s representative, Ambassador Alba Azucena Torres Mejía. The meeting also included Narim Kozaev, Tskhinvali’s ambassador to Nicaragua, and Claudio Antonio Arana, Minister-Counsellor of Nicaragua’s Embassy in Russia.

According to a statement from the Tskhinvali authorities, discussions revolved around enhancing bilateral relations and current international affairs. Nicaragua has historical ties to the Tskhinvali region, being one of the initial countries, alongside Russia, to acknowledge the independence of both Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia in September 2008, shortly after the Russian-Georgian war. In response, Tbilisi severed diplomatic relations with Managua in November 2008 due to this recognition.

Apart from Russia and Nicaragua, only a few nations, including Nauru, Venezuela, and Syria, recognize the sovereignty of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region as independent territories. The Georgian government, along with the majority of the international community, categorizes these territories as occupied by Russia, viewing diplomatic engagements with de facto officials as infringements of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In summary, the recent agreement between the Tskhinvali region and Nicaragua to waive visa requirements signifies a strengthening of diplomatic ties, continuing Nicaragua’s support for these regions following its acknowledgment of their independence. However, Tbilisi maintains a firm stance against such diplomatic engagements, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical complexities surrounding the recognition of these territories.

Original Source: civil.ge