"We strongly support Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and we do not recognize the de facto leaders or representatives of the 'South Ossetia' and Abkhazia regions and we do not consider it appropriate to have contact with them," Forza Italia's parliamentary group vice-president, MP Valentino Valentini said in response to a press conference held by Matteo Dall'Osso, Member of the Italian Parliament, on the topic: "The right of peoples to self-determination. Abkhazia and great Europe”, in which the so-called President of occupied Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, participated online.

According to Valentino Valentini, the statement of MP Matteo Dall'Osso does not reflect the position of either the Italian state or the party Forza Italia.

"We learned about the press conference held by MP Dall'Osso on the topic of “The right of peoples to self-determination: Abkhazia and great Europe.” In this regard, we declare that the above was a clearly personal initiative of MP Dall'Osso, which does not reflect the position of either the Italian state or the Forza Italia party. In line with our country's ongoing policy, we strongly support Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and we do not recognize the de facto leaders of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, nor their representatives, and we do not consider it appropriate to have contact with whom," Valentino Valentini said.

A statement was also issued by the press center of the Chamber of Deputies. According to the statement, press conferences organized by individual MPs in the Palace of Parliament are not held under the auspices or support of either the Chamber of Deputies or its Chairman.