South Ossetia/Abkhazia

Russia recognises Georgian rebel territories

Article published on the 2008-08-26 Latest update 2008-08-27 13:43 TU

Russian President Dimitri Medvedev.
(Photos : Reuters)

Russian President Dimitri Medvedev formally recognised the breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Tuesday, ratifying yesterday’s unanimous parliamentary vote.

The two states, which have enjoyed defacto autonomy since the early 1990s were the centre of a brief war between Russia and Georgia earlier this month.

Medvedev blamed Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for the violence. He said that it was now clear that the two warring sides could no longer live together.

“This is not an easy choice, but it is the only way to save the lives of people,” Medvedev said in a televised address.

The move drew immediate and sharp criticism from Europe and the US.

“This is in violation of the principle of territorial integrity, which is one of the basic principles of international law and this is therefore absolutely unacceptable,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner “strongly condemned” the decision.

But Medvedev was steadfast, saying “we’re not afraid of anything,” when asked about the possibility of a new Cold War as a result of Russia’s intervention.

“Previously Russia has insisted that it – like the West – believes in Georgia’s territorial integrity. But following the war in Georgia, there’s been a shift in thinking at the Kremlin,” correspondent Luke Harding told RFI.

“Since Kosovo became independent earlier this year, with the support of the US and most of the Western nations, this set a precedent. The [Russian] government feels that if Kosovo can become independent so can South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” Harding said from Tbilisi.

“This is the most serious crisis between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War. Russia is almost totally indifferent to Western opinion and really doesn’t care about possible sanctions, including severing ties with Nato,” Harding reported.

Georgia moved troops into South Ossetia in early August, in an attempt to reclaim sovereignty over the region, and Russia responded with airstrikes, pushing the Georgians out and occupying the two territories itself. Russia had signed defense agreements with the two territories that it used to justify the intervention, which nevertheless drew the ire of the European Union and the United States.

Shortly after the fighting subsided, the leaders of the two territories appealed to Russia to recognise their independence.