Putin’s plans over Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region

Russian President Vladimir Putin still has a hope that more countries will recognize the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (S. Ossetia) region after the 2008 war. So far Venezuela, Nicaragua and couple of Pacific Ocean islands have recognized Georgia’s breakaway territories as independent states. Russian diplomats try hard to extend the number of such countries and it looks like Vladimir Putin wants to further exercise pressure on Russia's CIS allies so that they also recognize these territories.

Currently Russia has started using CIS levers. On June 11 Putin signed a decision on creating a socioeconomic cooperation agency between CIS countries and Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This will be functioning within the framework of the Russian president’s administration. Its main target is to coordinate socioeconomic issues between CIS countries and Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Of course separatist leaders welcome such a decision. However, they consider that such steps require more consideration of administration and management.

Georgian analysts believe that this step is Russia's attempt to consider Abkhazia and South Ossetia as a part of CIS system. Georgian analysts think that this will only result in further confrontation and separation between Russia and Georgia. By such steps, Russia wants to highlight that these entities are not separate and they are parts of CIS system. Analysts believe this once again underscores that Putin's aim of restoring the Soviet Union system by all means possible.

So far, CIS countries refuse to recognize these entities as independent states and therefore their inclusion in the newly established group might create an awkward situation. However Russia can always explain that this is the agency within the Russian government and it reflects the Russian position and attitude towards the territories.

Some CIS countries- in particular Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova- are strongly opposing recognition of Georgia's breakaway territories as independent states. Russia meanwhile stubbornly tries to continue its policy of confrontation with Georgia.