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Russia recognizes breakaway Georgian regions

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-26 20:03

MOSCOW -- President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia has recognized the independence of the breakaway Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev makes a statement at the presidential residence at the Black Sea resort of Sochi August 26, 2008. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday he had signed a decree recognising two breakaway regions of Georgia as independent states. [Agencies]

Medvedev said in a televised address that he had signed a decree on the decision.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have effectively ruled themselves following wars in the 1990s.

The two houses of Russia's parliament adopted non-binding resolutions on Monday urging Medvedev to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and the second Georgian region of Abkhazia.

US President George W. Bush had urged Russia's leaders not to recognize the regions.

Related readings:  Duma backs independence of Georgia's breakaway regions  West awaits Medvedev word on recognizing S.Ossetia  Russia calls for urgent meeting with NATO over South Ossetia

Georgia and Russia fought a brief war over South Ossetia earlier this month after Tbilisi sent in troops to try to retake the province by force. Russia struck back with a massive Russian counter-attack by land, sea and air.

Russia has pulled out the bulk of its forces, but it has alarmed the West by stationing some troops deep inside Georgia's heartland on what it has called a peacekeeping mission.

The West says the troops give Moscow a stranglehold over vital ports and transport links and are a breach of a ceasefire deal. Georgia hosts a Western-backed oil pipeline which supplies about one percent of the world's crude.