Azernews.Az

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty with Head of the so-called Abkhazian Republic Raul Khadzhimba at the meeting in Sochi, on November 24, drawing harsh criticism from Georgia and the international community and causing serious concern in the South Caucasus country.

Russia and separatist Abkhazia will join efforts to develop their alliance and strategic partnership under the agreement. The treaty also envisages a common defense and security space, as well as assisting Abkhazia in its socioeconomic development and preserving a common cultural, spiritual and humanitarian space. Moreover, Russia promises to take utmost to help Abkhazia intensify its international relations.

Agreeing on alliance and partnership Russia expanded its authority over Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region. Kremlin will enjoy a dominant role in military and economic life of Abkhazia, making it easier for residents of the region to obtain Russian citizenship.

Russia was already in target of the severe criticism by western forces because of its annexation of Crimea and its support to instigate violent separatist revolt in eastern Ukraine. The treaty was immediately and angrily denounced by Georgia as illegal action to de facto annex Abkhazia.

The agreement also outlines a joint work to guard the Abkhazia-Georgia border. Russia will set up any necessary equipment and installations, since the treaty provides for complete freedom of movement on the Russia-Abkhazia state border.

Georgia has been working harder to establish closer political and economic ties with the European Union. Tbilisi said the new accord with Abkhazia was yet another attempt by Russia to disrupt Georgia's westward ambitions.

"Signing of the so-called treaty proves a deliberate move by Russia in reaction to Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” said Tamar Beruchashvili, Georgian Foreign Minister.

Beruchashvili said Georgia would appeal to the UN, NATO and other international organizations to denounce the agreement.

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili claimed that the signed document brings the talks between Russia and Georgia to a deadlock.

"The treaty, in fact, annexes Georgia's territory to Russia's military, political, social and economic space and turns Abkhazia into part of the Russia territory. That agreement grossly violates the international law," Margvelashvili said.

The U.S., one of Georgia's main supporters in the EU and NATO integration, don't recognize the agreement between Russia and the so-called Abkhazian Republic, said Richard Norland, the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia.

"The U.S. don't recognize any agreement with the de-facto Abkhazia," Norland announced.

Georgia suffered the same fate with Ukraine, who lost its legal territory to Russia when the northern giant annexed the Crimean peninsula in March, 2014. Tense relations between Russia and Georgia will expectedly be more tensed from now on. The agreement axed the bilateral talks for easing the long-lasting stress between the neighboring countries. The overt treaty masked Russia's covert intentions to annex Abkhazia and establish a universal dominance over the breakaway region.

Georgian armed forces launched military actions in the territory of its South Ossetia region on August 8, 2008. They clashed with Russian military troops and were forced to leave the region. Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. Tbilisi strictly condemned Russia's actions and broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow to recognize Abkazia and South Ossetia as occupied territories.