Tskhinvali Region and Nicaragua Forge Visa Exemption Agreement

The Tskhinvali region and Nicaragua signed an agreement in Moscow on February 27, 2023, eliminating visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders. The meeting involved foreign officials from both entities discussing bilateral relations and international issues. Nicaragua was one of the first nations to recognize the independence of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia, a move that severed its diplomatic ties with Georgia in 2008. Currently, few nations recognize these regions as independent.

On February 27, 2023, representatives from the Russian-backed Tskhinvali region, also known as South Ossetia, and the Central American nation of Nicaragua convened in Moscow to sign an agreement for the mutual exemption of visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders. The signing ceremony involved Tskhinvali’s so-called foreign minister, Akhsar Dzhioev, and the Nicaraguan ambassador to the occupied region, Alba Azucena Torres Mejía.

The discussions included discussions regarding the enhancement of bilateral relations and addressed various international issues of mutual interest. Also present at the meeting were Narim Kozaev, who serves as Tskhinvali’s ambassador to Nicaragua, and Claudio Antonio Arana, Minister-Counsellor of Nicaragua’s Embassy in the Russian Federation.

Nicaragua was one of the first countries to acknowledge the independence of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia in September 2008, soon after Russia did so following the Russo-Georgian War. This recognition prompted Tbilisi to sever diplomatic relations with Nicaragua in November of the same year, given Nicaragua’s perceived endorsement of the occupation of Georgian territories.

Currently, Nicaragua, along with Russia, recognizes both Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region as independent states, a stance shared only by a few others, including Nauru, Venezuela, and Syria. In contrast, the Georgian government and the majority of the international community assert that these regions are under Russian occupation, viewing any diplomatic affiliations with their de facto authorities as infringements upon Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In conclusion, the signing of the visa exemption agreement between Tskhinvali and Nicaragua underscores their continuing diplomatic relations and shared political interests, despite widespread international condemnation. Nicaragua’s historical support for the recognition of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia remains a contentious issue, especially with Georgia and its allies considering such actions as a violation of sovereignty. This event illustrates the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding recognition and legitimacy amid ongoing regional conflicts.

Original Source: civil.ge