Georgia is one of the closest partners to NATO and we greatly appreciate the important contribution you make to our missions - we fully support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia, - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced this at a briefing held after the meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, Paralel.Az reports citing InterPressNews.

According to him, the activities of Russia in the occupied territories and the ongoing events in Ukraine are absolutely illegal.

"Yesterday I was in Baku, today I arrived in Tbilisi. This, in principle, reflects how much we value Georgia in NATO, and also, I welcome the fact that a few weeks ago you were in Brussels, I am now in Tbilisi, this proves that we have an active political dialogue between our partners. Georgia is one of the closest partners to NATO, and we greatly appreciate the important contribution you make to our missions, and we fully support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia. "NATO continues to call on Russia to take back the decision on the independent recognition of the indigenous territories of Georgia and to stop Russia's activities in the occupied territories, which is absolutely illegal," said Jens Stoltenberg.

In addition, according to Stoltenberg's assessment, the presidential elections held in Russia were "neither fair nor free".

"There were neither fair nor free elections in Russia, I can say that too. Russia is pursuing imperialist aspirations and Ukraine is in a situation where it is facing these difficulties. That is why it is important that we continue and strengthen our support. NATO allies provide 99% military assistance to Ukraine and partners play a very important role. I welcome the fact that thousands of Ukrainians are in Georgia as asylum seekers and are receiving financial and humanitarian assistance. We call on Russia to stop these events," said Jens Stoltenberg.