The UN General Assembly at its 77th session adopted for the 16th time a resolution recognizing the right of all Georgian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to Abkhazia and Samchablo. The official title of the resolution is "Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia".

This year the document was co-sponsored by 63 countries (last year there were 61). This year 100 countries supported the document, the largest support for Georgia since 2008, when the resolution was first introduced in the General Assembly. Azerbaijan and Turkey, among others, supported the resolution.

Only nine countries - Russia, Syria, Nicaragua, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Belarus, Cuba and North Korea - voted against the return of Georgian refugees this time. As can be seen, apart from the aggressor country Russia, these are mainly the poorest countries or marginal regimes such as the Assad regime in Syria and North Korea.

Armenia did not take part in this year's vote either. For the 16th time, there is no Armenian support for Georgian refugees at the UN! Previously, Yerevan for many years was "against" the return of Georgian refugees. And in fact, even today, it maintains this position, continuing to support separatism, but does not vote in sync with Russia solely as part of "changing allies" from Russia to Western countries.

It should be noted that China, Laos and Vietnam voted against the resolution last year. This year China abstained, which is very telling - it turns out that after almost a year and a half of Russia's hopeless Ukrainian war, the PRC is completely refusing even indirect support from the Kremlin for imposing separatism and redrawing borders in the pro-Soviet space.

A total of 59 states abstained in favour of the resolution. Last year Laos and Vietnam that voted against the return of Georgian refugees did not participate in the voting this year.

Recall that in 2022 the resolution was supported by 95 countries, 12 were against it, and 56 abstained. Armenia did not vote. In previous years, the voting pattern was as follows:

- In 2020, 84 countries supported the resolution, 13 were against it, 78 abstained and Armenia did not vote;

- In 2019, 79 countries supported the resolution, 15 were against it, 57 abstained. Armenia - did not vote;

- In 2018, 81 countries supported the resolution, 16 were against it, 62 abstained. Armenia voted against the return of Georgian refugees, despite the fact that the current prime minister in Yerevan, Nikol Pashinian, had by then come to power;

- In 2017, 80 countries supported the resolution, 14 opposed it, and 61 abstained Armenia voted against it;

- In 2016, 76 countries voted for the resolution on the return of Georgian refugees, 15 against, 64 abstained, Armenia voted against;

- In 2015, 75 countries voted for the resolution, 16 against, 78 abstained. Armenia voted against;

- In 2014, 69 countries voted for the resolution on the return of Georgian refugees, 13 countries voted against and 79 countries abstained. Armenia voted against;

- In 2013, 62 countries voted for the resolution on the return of Georgian refugees. 16 countries voted against, 84 abstained. Armenia voted against.

- In 2012, 60 countries voted for the return of Georgian refugees. There were 15 states against, and 82 countries abstained. Armenia voted against.

- In 2011, 57 countries supported the resolution, 13 countries opposed it, and 74 states abstained. Armenia voted against.

- In 2010, the resolution was supported by 50 countries, against 17 countries, with 86 abstentions. Armenia voted against.

- In 2009, 48 countries voted in favour, 19 against; 78 abstained; Armenia voted against.

- In 2008, the resolution on the return of Georgian refugees (in that year only in Abkhazia, since the vote was held before the August 2008 conflict) was supported by only 14 countries, 11 voted against it, and 105 abstained. Armenia voted against.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said on the vote for the return of Georgian refugees to Abkhazia and Samachablo in the current year 2023 that the relevant resolution has already become a "global initiative". Tbilisi called its support a great success of Georgian diplomacy. Those who do not support the return of Georgian refugees end up in an absolute minority, and clearly position themselves as marginalized and international outcasts.

Grigol Giorgadze