The State Department on Wednesday criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for vacationing in a Russian-occupied Georgian region.
Putin's visit was seen as supporting Abkhazian separatists, which international agreements classify as a violation of Georgia's sovereignty, the Hill reports.
Abkhazia is a region of Georgia that, along with the region of South Ossetia, was invaded by Russia in 2008 in a bid to support Georgian separatists and extend Moscow's sphere of influence. Putin's visit marked the ninth anniversary of that invasion.
"The United States views the visit of President Putin to the Russian-occupied Georgian territory of Abkhazia as inappropriate and inconsistent with the principles underlying the Geneva International Discussions, to which Russia is a party," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.
"The United States fully supports Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and rejects Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," she said.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili called the visit "a violation of international law."
"The United States urges Russia to withdraw its forces to pre-war positions per the 2008 ceasefire agreement and reverse its recognition of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Nauert said.
State's condemnation did not stop Putin from expressing his commitment to building a joint military contingent with Abkhazia's separatist administration's leader, Raul Khadzhimba, during his visit.