Nauru withdraws recognition of occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia

The government of the Pacific island nation of Nauru says it has formally withdrawn its recognition of the self-proclaimed republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

“The Government of the Republic of Nauru declares that it has withdrawn its recognition of the ‘Republic of South Ossetia’ and the ‘Republic of Abkhazia’ as independent states.

Accordingly, the Republic of Nauru has immediately terminated diplomatic relations with South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” the Nauru government said in a statement.

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On 29 July, Nauru severed diplomatic relations with the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia’s foreign ministry described the decision as a sign of respect for the principles of international law and said Tbilisi was ready to establish diplomatic relations with Nauru and strengthen bilateral cooperation on the basis of shared interests.

“The decision once again confirms that respect for and adherence to international law are the foundation of healthy international relations,” the ministry said in a statement.

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The self-proclaimed Abkhaz foreign ministry claimed that Nauru had come under “unprecedented pressure” to end diplomatic relations with Abkhazia.

“The development of cooperation between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of Nauru has consistently encountered resistance from Georgia and its Western partners. As joint initiatives turned into practice, a campaign of aggressive external pressure was unleashed against the Republic of Nauru.

For many years, states maintaining diplomatic relations with the Republic of Abkhazia have faced external pressure aimed at abandoning their independently determined foreign policy course. Small states, with limited resources to counter large-scale political, diplomatic, and economic instruments of influence, are particularly vulnerable to such pressure.

Such practice contradicts the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, including the principles of the sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.

The Republic of Abkhazia remains committed to strengthening its international subject status, protecting its national interests, and developing mutually beneficial cooperation with states that share the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect, and international law,” the statement said.

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Nauru recognised the independence of Abkhazia and Georgia’s Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) in 2009, after Russia declared the two Georgian regions independent states. Nauru was one of only a handful of countries to support the move backed by Moscow.

Nauru is a small Pacific island state in the Micronesia region. It is one of the world’s smallest countries, both by land area and population. Covering about 21 sq km (8 sq miles), it is home to around 12,000-13,000 people.