This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7580386.stm
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Russian MPs back Georgia's rebels | Russian MPs back Georgia's rebels |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Both houses of Russia's parliament have urged the president to recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. | Both houses of Russia's parliament have urged the president to recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. |
| The unanimous votes in the Federation Council and State Duma are not binding on President Dmitry Medvedev. | |
| But they could provide Mr 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. |
| Most of Russian ground forces pulled out of Georgia last Friday, following a French-brokered ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Tbilisi. | Most of Russian ground forces pulled out of Georgia last Friday, following a French-brokered ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Tbilisi. |
| It's a historic day for Abkhazia... and South Ossetia Sergei Bagapsh, Abkhazian leader | It's a historic day for Abkhazia... and South Ossetia Sergei Bagapsh, Abkhazian leader |
| But some Russian troops continue to operate near the Black Sea port of Poti, south of Abkhazia, and have established checkpoints around South Ossetia. | But some Russian troops continue to operate near the Black Sea port of Poti, south of Abkhazia, and have established checkpoints around South Ossetia. |
| Moscow has defended plans to keep its forces near Poti, saying it does not break the terms of the truce. | Moscow has defended plans to keep its forces near Poti, saying it does not break the terms of the truce. |
| The US, France and UK say Russia has already failed to comply by creating buffer zones around South Ossetia and Abkhazia. | The US, France and UK say Russia has already failed to comply by creating buffer zones around South Ossetia and Abkhazia. |
| Both regions have had de facto independence since breaking away in the early 1990s. | Both regions 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 has 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 has established controversial buffer zones along their administrative borders with Georgia proper. |
| Independence rallies | Independence rallies |
| The upper house, Federation Council, voted 130-0 to call on President Medvedev to support the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. | The upper house, Federation Council, voted 130-0 to call on President Medvedev to support the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. |
| The lower house, the State Duma, approved the same resolution in a 447-0 vote shortly afterwards. | The lower house, the State Duma, approved the same resolution in a 447-0 vote shortly afterwards. |
| South Ossetians rallied for independence last week | South Ossetians rallied for independence last week |
| The Federation Council speaker, Sergei Mironov, said the two regions had all the necessary attributes of independent states. | The Federation Council speaker, Sergei Mironov, said the two regions had all the necessary attributes of independent states. |
| Both Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh and his South Ossetian counterpart, Eduard Kokoity, addressed the Russian lawmakers before the votes, urging them to recognise the independence of the two regions. | Both Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh and his South Ossetian counterpart, Eduard Kokoity, addressed the Russian lawmakers before the votes, urging them to recognise the independence of the two regions. |
| "It's a historic day for Abkhazia... and South Ossetia," Mr Bagapsh said, adding that Abkhazia would never again be part of Georgia. | "It's a historic day for Abkhazia... and South Ossetia," Mr Bagapsh said, adding that Abkhazia would never again be part of Georgia. |
| Mr Kokoity thanked Russia for supporting South Ossetia during the conflict with Georgia, describing President Medvedev's move to deploy troops as "a courageous, timely and correct" decision. | Mr Kokoity thanked Russia for supporting South Ossetia during the conflict with Georgia, describing President Medvedev's move to deploy troops as "a courageous, timely and correct" decision. |
| He said that South Ossetia and Abkhazia had more rights to become recognised nations than Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia earlier this year with support from the US and much of the European Union. | He said that South Ossetia and Abkhazia had more rights to become recognised nations than Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia earlier this year with support from the US and much of the European Union. |
| 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. |
| The lawmakers interrupted their summer holidays for extraordinary sittings, formally called at the request of separatist leaders in the two Georgian provinces. | The lawmakers interrupted their summer holidays for extraordinary sittings, formally called at the request of separatist leaders in the two Georgian provinces. |
| 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 Northern Cyprus? | Kosovo or Northern 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 State Duma passed a resolution supporting independence should Georgia invade or rush to join Nato. | But in March the State Duma passed a resolution supporting independence should Georgia invade or rush to join Nato. |
| After Monday's votes, the bill will be sent to the Kremlin for approval. | After Monday's votes, the bill will be sent to the Kremlin for approval. |
| Analysts say the Kremlin might delay its decision while it carries out wider negotiations with the West on the crisis, says our correspondent. | Analysts say the Kremlin might delay its decision while it carries out wider negotiations with the West on the crisis, says our correspondent. |
| If it backs the move, the two regions could apply to the United Nations for recognition, which would almost certainly be vetoed in the Security Council. | If it backs the move, the two regions 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 end up like Kosovo and be accepted by a substantial number of governments. | Analysts say the two new aspirant nations could end up like Kosovo and be accepted by a substantial number of governments. |
| Alternatively, they could become largely isolated and recognised only by Russia, in the same way that Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey. | Alternatively, they could become largely isolated and recognised only by Russia, in the same way that Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey. |
| 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? |
| Send in your comments by completing the form below. | Send in your comments by completing the form below. |
| You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, or text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions. | You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, or text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions. |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |