Russia, South Ossetia sign border agreement
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 18 February 2015 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia, South Ossetia sign border agreement, 18 February 2015, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/550940cde.html [accessed 27 June 2017] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 18, 2015
Russia and Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia have signed a "border agreement" opposed by Tbilisi.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the de facto foreign minister of South Ossetia's separatist government, David Sanakoyev, signed the document in Moscow on February 18.
In November, Moscow signed an "alliance and strategic partnership" treaty with Georgia's another breakaway region, Abkhazia.
Georgia has opposed the deals, saying they would increase Russia's presence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Last month, Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili said Moscow could annex South Ossetia as it did Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.
Also last month, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili urged the European Union to strongly oppose the border deal between Russia and South Ossetia.
Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent nations after fighting a five-day war with Georgia in 2008.
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website