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International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence began on 26 August 2008 when the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev recognized the two republics following the 2008 South Ossetia war.

Dmitry Medvedev appealed to all other countries to follow this step. South Ossetia and Abkhazia also recognize one another.

States that formally recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent

UN member states

	Country	Date of recognition	Status of reciprocal diplomatic relations
1	Russia	2008-08-26	President Dmitry Medvedev has instructed the foreign ministry to open talks with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on establishing diplomatic relations with Russia.

Unrecognised states

	Entity	Notes
1	Transnistria	Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh mutually recognised each other in November 2006.
2	Nagorno-Karabakh Nagorno-Karabakh

States that have declared intent to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Country

Response

Belarus

Belarusian MPs said they supported Russia's move to accept the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. MP Sergei Kostian said "I think it was an absolutely correct decision. All responsible people should support Russia, so as to put an end to the unilateral influence in the world of the US and the European Union. Have the US and the West forgotten, how they accepted Kosovo's independence, how they bombed Yugoslavia, are bombing Iraq, and have forgotten Afghanistan?". MP Sergei Gaidukevich said "Russia has irrevocably got up off of her knees and has announced that she is a major state able to influence the geopolitical situation in the world ... and she has begun to act using the language of the US, on the basis of her interests, without worrying about the dissatisfaction of other countries."

States that have yet to decide or do not recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia

UN member states

International organisation	Notes
Bulgaria	Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dimitar Tsanchev said "The decision of Russian authorities to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is causing serious worry. Bulgaria once again re-iterates its unconditional support for the independence, sovereignty and internationally recognised borders."
Croatia	President Stjepan Mesić stated that he is worried over the Russian decision and said that "such a decision makes the complex situation in the region even more complex".
Czech Republic	Czech MFA issued a statement calling Russia's action "an attack on the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia."
Denmark	Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller declared "unconditional support for Georgia's territorial integrity."
Germany	Chancellor Angela Merkel said "this contradicts the principle of territorial integrity, a principle based on the international law of nations and for this reason it is unacceptable."
Georgia	Deputy foreign minister Giga Bokeria said: "This is an unconcealed annexation of these territories, which are a part of Georgia."
Hungary	The Hungarian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, regretting the decision of the Russian government and stating that "these decisions do not serve the stability of the Caucasus region and do not advance negotiations over a settlement of the very conflict which has produced severe humanitarian and material consequences."
Italy	Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said "The move does not apply in an international legal framework. An ethnic-based balkanisation of the Caucasus is a serious danger for all".
Japan	Yasuaki Tanizaki, director general of the Japanese foreign ministry's European bureau, said "Our country is gravely concerned about the move. Our country hopes that Russia ... will take responsible actions for the region's stability."
Slovakia	Statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Slovakia "disapproves of these steps and confirms the main principles, based on the longstanding position of the Slovak Republic regarding Georgia and the solution of conflicts on its territory. These principles are: sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders and solution of the conflicts exclusively by peaceful means and talks in compliance with the international law." The statement also said that "the Slovak government, as one of few EU member states, can insist on the principle of the territorial integrity of Georgia, as it has done also in the case of Serbia and Kosovo."
Spain	Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos said that the Government of Spain regrets the decision of Russia. He also said that this decision by Moscow is "unacceptable" and "not conducive to creating the conditions necessary for settlement of the conflict between Russia and Georgia". Moratinos reiterated the "need to fully respect the principles of international law, in particular the territorial integrity of states, in this case, of Georgia." In addition, he recalled that this is the stance that "Spain has always maintained", an allusion to the opposition of the Spanish Government to recognition of the Kosovo independence.
Sweden	Foreign secretary Carl Bildt condemns Russia's recognition, saying that "the Russian government leadership now has chosen this route means they have chosen a policy of confrontation, not only with the rest of Europe, but also with the international community in general".
Ukraine	Speaker of Parliament Arseniy Yatsenyuk said "only the United Nations can rule on this question. This is factually a violation of international law." Viktor Yanukovich, head of Ukraine's opposition Party of Regions, said "Ukraine should respect the will of the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia."
United Kingdom	Foreign Secretary David Miliband accused Russian president Dmitry Medvedev of "inflaming" the crisis. He said that "the announcement by President Medvedev that Russia will recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia is unjustifiable and unacceptable. It will also not work. It is contrary to the principles of the peace agreement, which Russia recently agreed, and to recent Russian statements. It takes no account of the views of the hundreds of thousands of Georgians and others who have been forced to abandon their homes in the two territories. We fully support Georgia's independence and territorial integrity, which cannot be changed by decree from Moscow." He called on Russia to "abide by international law as the basis for resolving this crisis" and stated that he will assemble the "widest possible coalition against Russian aggression".
United States	Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said the decision was "regrettable".

International governmental organisations

References

1. "Presidential statement". Kremlin website. 2008-08-26. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
2. ^ "Абхазия, Южная Осетия и Приднестровье признали независимость друг друга и призвали всех к этому же". Newsru. 2006-11-17. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
3. "Russia recognises Georgian rebels". BBC. 2008-08-26. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
4. Russia opens talks on diplomatic ties
5. Belarus MPs support Russia recognition of breakaway regions
6. Bulgaria "worried" by Russia's recognition of South Ossetia, Abkhazia independence
7. Mesić zabrinut zbog ruskog priznanja Južna Osetije i Abhazije
8. ^ EU leaders condemn Russia in shadow of Kosovo
9. ^ In quotes: Russia support for rebels
10. ^ Russia recognises Georgian rebels
11. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry regrets that the Russian President signed the decree recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia - Statement of the ministry. The Foreign Ministry of Hungary. Retrieved on 2008-08-26.
12. Italy says Russian recognition of rebel regions lacks legal basis
13. Japan voices "grave concern" over Russia's recognition of rebel regions
14. Slovak Republic disapproves of recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russian Federation
15. España lamenta el reconocimiento de la independencia de Osetia y Adjazia
16. Moscow recognizes Georgian rebel regions, Warsaw Business Journal, August 26, 2008
17. Bildt: Russia 'violating international law', The Local, August 26, 2008.
18. Ukraine leaders split on Russia recognition of breakaway regions
19. Miliband blasts Russia move
20. OSCE Chairman condemns Russia's recognition of South Ossetia, Abkhazia independence

See also

• 2008 South Ossetia war
• List of unrecognized countries
• South Ossetian independence referendum, 2006
• International reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence

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