Update: Russian Parliament Recognizes South Ossetia, Abkhazia Independence
"Russian lawmakers meet on rebel Georgian regions" by Oleg Shchedrov | August 24, 2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian lawmakers meet on Monday to discuss pleas by Georgian separatists for Moscow to recognize their independence, a move that could stoke tensions with the West over Russia's military intervention in pro-Western Georgia.
The non-binding resolutions on South Ossetia and Abkhazia could flag Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's intentions or be designed to strengthen his hand with the West as he negotiates the status of Russian forces in its former Soviet vassal.
Russia sent in troops on August 8 to crush Georgia's bid to retake the pro-Moscow rebel region of South Ossetia, rattling markets and shocking Western states alarmed by the Kremlin's assertive behavior in a key oil and gas transit route.
Do you get tired of the bias of the western press like me, readers?
Moscow, which withdrew the bulk of its forces from Georgia's heartland on Friday, says residual troops are peacekeepers needed to avert further bloodshed and protect Georgia's separatist, pro-Moscow provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russia's formal recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and the Black Sea province of Abkhazia, would put it on a collision course with the West. Analysts say resolutions by the parliamentary chambers, both tightly controlled by the Kremlin, could give Medvedev a formal pretext for the recognition of the regions.
On August 14 Medvedev told separatist leaders in Moscow that Russia would support a drive for self-determination by Abkhazia and South Ossetia and vowed to guarantee any such move. Lawmakers could also adopt less radical resolutions, leaving the Kremlin to handle relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, having full-scale ties without formal recognition.
Russia has so far resisted repeated calls for formal recognition by South Ossetians and Abkhazians, although Kremlin officials have hinted that the Western recognition of Serbia's breakaway region of Kosovo has created a precedent.
Moscow says its armed intervention averted a "genocide" of Ossetians by Georgia, and Russian leaders have said it is unthinkable the rebels would agree to reunite with Georgia.
Yes, I have that on good sourcing (see comments), too!
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Also see: PHOTOS FROM GEORGIAN CONFLICT - WARNING - EXTREMELY GRAPHIC
