Georgia’s breakaway states demand independence

Georgia’s two breakaway states have re-affirmed their intention to declare independence. The leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia met President Medvedev at the Kremlin, who said Russia supported them and would guarantee their future.

Sergei Bagapsh and Edward Kokoity then signed the French-led peace deal to end the fighting. The self-proclaimed presidents insisted independence was their goal, and nothing would stop them from achieving it.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia launched short-lived wars to break away in the 1990s, but no country officially recognised them.

Evidence emerged today of Georgia’s panicked retreat from Abkhazia. As Tbilisi’s soldiers fled their positions in the strategically-important Kodori Gorge, they abandoned hundreds of weapons and munitions. To the victor, the spoils. Abkhaz troops displayed the booty, showing off their prize for the cameras.