Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who signed a decree in 2008 recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two breakaway regions of neighboring Georgia, this week said the idea of the regions joining Russia is “still popular,” and that Moscow could formally annex them “if there are good reasons to do so.”
Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been under the effective control of the Kremlin since the 5-day war between Russia and Georgia over the regions in August 2008.
Moscow recognizes both regions as independent states, while most United Nations members view them as Russian-occupied Georgian territory.
In an article published by Russian newspaper Argumenty i Fakty on Wednesday, the 15th anniversary of Medvedev’s decree, he wrote: “The idea of joining Russia is still popular in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It could quite possibly be implemented if there are good reasons to do so.”
Such reasons count Georgia taking steps towards joining NATO.
“We will not wait if our concerns move closer to reality,” Mr Medvedev noted.
Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia held autonomous status in Georgia during the soviet period, and when Georgia declared independence in 1991, both regions declared their own intention to break away.
This led to armed conflicts between the separatists and the new Georgian government, who sought to take control of the regions by force.
Moscow supported the regions, which aggravated relations between Georgia and the post-Soviet Russian government.
In August 2008, Russian troops entered both Abkhazia and South Ossetia to push back Georgian forces fighting the separatists there. Shortly after the ceasefire, Mr Medvedev signed the abovementioned decree formally recognizing the two regions as independent states.
