Accessibility links

Breaking News

Abkhazia Declares EU Diplomat Persona Non Grata


SUKHUMI -- Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia has declared the head of the European Union's Monitoring Mission in Georgia "persona non grata."

Abkhazia's de facto Foreign Ministry said Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, a diplomat from Poland, had been ignoring Abkhazia’s requests and was disrespectful "to the Abkhaz nation."

The EU monitoring team and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe conduct monthly meetings with Russian, Georgian, and Abkhaz officials aimed at easing tensions in the region.

Abkhaz officials refused to take part in the most recent meeting, on April 24, in Abkhazia's Gali district.

Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and another Georgian separatist region, South Ossetia, as independent states after the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

Based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Georgian and Echo of the Caucasus services
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG