The Tskhinvali region and Nicaragua have signed an agreement to eliminate visa formalities for diplomatic passport holders. This agreement was reached during a meeting in Moscow attended by officials from both regions. Nicaragua was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia in 2008, following Russia’s recognition. Most of the global community considers these regions as occupied territories.
On February 27, the Russian-supported Tskhinvali region, also known as South Ossetia, entered an agreement with Nicaragua regarding the mutual elimination of visa requirements for holders of various diplomatic and official passports. The agreement was finalized during a meeting in Moscow between Akhsar Dzhioev, Tskhinvali’s self-proclaimed foreign minister, and Alba Azucena Torres Mejía, the Nicaraguan ambassador to the occupied territory.
The discussions were attended by Narim Kozaev, the so-called Tskhinvali ambassador to Nicaragua, and Claudio Antonio Arana, a Minister-Counsellor from Nicaragua’s Embassy in Russia. According to statements from Tskhinvali’s foreign ministry, the parties explored ways to enhance and develop bilateral relations, as well as current international issues.
Nicaragua was one of the first nations to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia in September 2008, shortly following the Russian-Georgian conflict. This recognition occurred a month after Russia officially acknowledged both regions as independent from Georgia, which led Tbilisi to sever diplomatic ties with Managua later that same year.
Aside from Russia and Nicaragua, only a few other nations, including Nauru, Venezuela, and Syria, have extended recognition to Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent entities. The Georgian government, along with the majority of the international community, views these regions as occupied territories and considers any diplomatic engagement with their leadership a violation of Georgia’s sovereignty.
The agreement between Tskhinvali and Nicaragua demonstrates ongoing diplomatic ties that challenge the broader international consensus on the territorial status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Nicaragua’s historical recognition of these regions, alongside limited global support, accentuates the complexities of international law and recognition in post-Soviet spaces. This agreement reflects Nicaragua’s commitment to its political stance, despite repercussions from the Georgian government. The engagement further complicates the geopolitical landscape, revealing the enduring legacies of the conflicts in the region and the differing perspectives on sovereignty and territorial integrities among nations.
Original Source: civil.ge
