International

Moscow may recognise breakaway republics

MOSCOW: Russia may recognise the independence of Georgia’s breakaway territories as early as next week, when Parliament resumes after the summer recess, said Russian MPs.

“The Federation Council [Upper House] and the State Duma [Lower House] are ready to recognise the independent status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia if their people choose independence and if the Russian President decides to endorse it,” said Upper House Speaker Sergei Mironov.

Russian MPs have been recalled from vacations early so that Parliament can reopen on August 25 to discuss Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia. Senior parliamentarian Konstantin Zatulin said the Duma may vote to ask President Dmitry Medvedev to recognise the separatist regions if he does not do it by August 25 itself.

Mr. Medvedev told the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia last week that Russia would “support any decision” the two regions may take regarding their status.

Both self-proclaimed republics had earlier voted for independence in referendums and their Parliaments on Wednesday formally asked Russia to grant them diplomatic recognition. Moscow is likely to use the same arguments the West did in supporting Kosovo’s independence from Serbia. Russia accused Georgia of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia. Russia on Tuesday rejected a France-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution backed by the U.S. and Britain, which reiterated support for Georgia’s territorial integrity. Moscow on Thursday tabled its own draft at the Security Council that calls for launching “international discussion on the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” as per a six-point peace plan. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday reaffirmed the pledge to withdraw forces from Georgia by Friday.

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