Georgian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Tbilisi “condemns” local elections held by “the proxy regime operating in Russian occupied region of Abkhazia” on February 12.

"Considering the fact, that as a result of ethnic cleansing executed in Abkhazia, Georgia the overwhelming majority of local population was expelled from the places of original residence, this pseudo-democratic political act represents yet another cynical attempt to mislead the international community," the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on February 14.

It also said that “so called elections” were another step towards “legitimization of the outcome of the ethnic cleansing” and called on the international community “to give an adequate assessment to the illegal elections.”

Abkhaz news agency, Apsnipress, reported that 38.8% of voters turned out at the polling stations on February 12. Local councils are elected for four-year terms. De facto president of the breakaway region appoints the heads of towns and districts from members of the elected local councils.