Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Georgia angry at Russia's links with rebel regions

Shaun Walker
Friday 18 April 2008 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Russia has been criticised over moves to establish legal links with the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The two territories are officially part of Georgia but declared independence in the early 1990s.

Amid the continuing international fallout over Western countries' recognition of Kosovo, it was revealed this week that Vladimir Putin had ordered Russian authorities to recognise documents issued by the separatist entities, as well as co-operate with them on trade.

The move has angered Georgia, whose pro-Western policies are at the centre of a long-running dispute with Russia, and could lead to a further decline in Russia's relationship with the West.

Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, said yesterday that she had telephoned the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, to register her disapproval, while members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressed "deep concern" at the moves.

Temuri Yakobashvili, the Georgian Minister for Reintegration, said the Russian moves amounted to the "creeping annexation" of the territory and accused the Russians of "using the same logic as Hitler did in Czechoslovakia".

Speaking from the Abkhazian capital of Sukhumi, the separatist Foreign Minister, Sergey Shamba, said the Russian move would allow Abkhazia to make an "economic breakthrough".

He said: "Kosovo has changed the international legal situation, and we think this should enable the Russians to recognise us [as an independent country]."

The US and European Union have said that Kosovo was a "unique case" and cannot be applied to other conflicts, whereas Mr Putin repeatedly stated in the run-up to Kosovo's independence in February that he didn't see why the former Serbian province deserved independence more than Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Russian move comes just a few weeks after the Georgians presented a plan for the reintegration of Abkhazia into Georgia, allowing it broad autonomy. The plan was backed by Western countries.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in