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| Russia debates Georgian regions | Russia debates Georgian regions |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russia's houses of parliament are holding a debate on whether to recognise the independence of Georgia's two breakaway provinces. | |
| A vote by MPs on the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia would not be binding on the Kremlin. | |
| However, it could provide President Dmitry Medvedev with bargaining chips in talks with the West, analysts say. | However, it could provide President Dmitry Medvedev with bargaining chips in talks with the West, analysts say. |
| Russia fought a brief war with Georgia this month after Tbilisi tried to retake South Ossetia by military force. | Russia fought a brief war with Georgia this month after Tbilisi tried to retake South Ossetia by military force. |
| Both it and the much larger province of Abkhazia have had de facto independence since breaking away in the early 1990s. | Both it and the much larger province of Abkhazia have had de facto independence since breaking away in the early 1990s. |
| While they have enjoyed Russian economic and diplomatic support, and military protection, no foreign state has recognised them as independent states. | While they have enjoyed Russian economic and diplomatic support, and military protection, no foreign state has recognised them as independent states. |
| Since the fighting over South Ossetia ended nearly two weeks ago with the ejection of Georgian forces from both provinces, the Russian military have established controversial buffer zones along their administrative borders with Georgia proper. | Since the fighting over South Ossetia ended nearly two weeks ago with the ejection of Georgian forces from both provinces, the Russian military have established controversial buffer zones along their administrative borders with Georgia proper. |
| Independence rallies | Independence rallies |
| The upper house of Russian's parliament - the Federation Council - began its session at 0600 GMT, while the lower house - the State Duma - is due to meet at 0800 GMT. | The upper house of Russian's parliament - the Federation Council - began its session at 0600 GMT, while the lower house - the State Duma - is due to meet at 0800 GMT. |
| Both houses of the Russian parliament are dominated by allies of President Medvedev and his Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin. | Both houses of the Russian parliament are dominated by allies of President Medvedev and his Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin. |
| South Ossetians rallied for independence last week | South Ossetians rallied for independence last week |
| They interrupted their summer holidays for extraordinary sittings, formally called at the request of separatist leaders in the two Georgian provinces. | They interrupted their summer holidays for extraordinary sittings, formally called at the request of separatist leaders in the two Georgian provinces. |
| Sergei Mironov, speaker of the upper chamber (the Federation Council), said on Friday that members were ready to recognise Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence "if the people of these regions wish and if there is an appropriate decision by the Russian president". | Sergei Mironov, speaker of the upper chamber (the Federation Council), said on Friday that members were ready to recognise Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence "if the people of these regions wish and if there is an appropriate decision by the Russian president". |
| It was not clear if there would be actual votes on recognition on Monday and parliamentary business includes a proposal to set up a special joint committee to investigate alleged Georgian abuses in South Ossetia. | It was not clear if there would be actual votes on recognition on Monday and parliamentary business includes a proposal to set up a special joint committee to investigate alleged Georgian abuses in South Ossetia. |
| Thousands of people attended pro-independence rallies in the Abkhaz capital Sukhumi and war-ravaged South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on Thursday. | Thousands of people attended pro-independence rallies in the Abkhaz capital Sukhumi and war-ravaged South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on Thursday. |
| Kosovo or north Cyprus? | Kosovo or north Cyprus? |
| While both provinces have been pushing for formal independence since the break-up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Russia's official line at least until now has been similar to that of the West, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley reports from Moscow. | While both provinces have been pushing for formal independence since the break-up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Russia's official line at least until now has been similar to that of the West, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley reports from Moscow. |
| But in March the lower chamber of parliament (the State Duma) passed a resolution supporting independence should Georgia invade or rush to join Nato. | But in March the lower chamber of parliament (the State Duma) passed a resolution supporting independence should Georgia invade or rush to join Nato. |
| If there is a new vote now, the bill would be sent to the Kremlin for approval and if that goes ahead, the two provinces could apply to the United Nations for recognition, which would almost certainly be vetoed in the Security Council. | If there is a new vote now, the bill would be sent to the Kremlin for approval and if that goes ahead, the two provinces could apply to the United Nations for recognition, which would almost certainly be vetoed in the Security Council. |
| They could also ask for support from Russia's allies from as far afield as Venezuela and Cuba, our correspondent notes. | They could also ask for support from Russia's allies from as far afield as Venezuela and Cuba, our correspondent notes. |
| Analysts say the two new aspirant nations could either end up like the Serbian breakaway province of Kosovo, to which they have been compared, and be accepted by a substantial number of governments. | Analysts say the two new aspirant nations could either end up like the Serbian breakaway province of Kosovo, to which they have been compared, and be accepted by a substantial number of governments. |
| Alternatively, they could, like the case of northern Cyprus and Turkey, become largely isolated and recognised only by Russia. | Alternatively, they could, like the case of northern Cyprus and Turkey, become largely isolated and recognised only by Russia. |
| Much of it would depend on the measure of Russia's international influence, our correspondent adds. | Much of it would depend on the measure of Russia's international influence, our correspondent adds. |
| Should Abkhazia and South Ossetia be independent? Can normal life ever be resumed in Georgia? | Should Abkhazia and South Ossetia be independent? Can normal life ever be resumed in Georgia? |
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