Moscow, August 7 (KCNA) -- The Abkhazian Foreign Ministry on August 1 lodged a protest with the United States against the U.S. Senate terming the Russian military presence in the country as "occupation", ITAR TASS said.

The Foreign Ministry stated that Abkhazia does not agree to the view of the U.S. Senate.

Abkhazia always keeps its door open for any U.S. official who wants to confirm firsthand that the country is an independent and democratic nation pursuing its own domestic and foreign politics, said the Foreign Ministry.

It expressed regret over the U.S. political and economic sanctions against Abkhazia.