OREANDA-NEWS. September 9, 2008. “I was pleased to learn of the fraternal Republic of Nicaragua’s brave and important step in taking the historic decision to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” Mr Medvedev said in his message. “We see your decision as an act aimed at confirming the supremacy of the fundamental principles of international law and the future formation of a fair multi-polar world order.

Russia’s decision to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia was motivated by both legal and moral considerations, above all regarding the need to guarantee effective security for their peoples in the long term. Our country could not simply wait until Tbilisi’s barbaric aggression against South Ossetia or Abkhazia, accompanied by genocide of the local population, led to these peoples’ physical annihilation”.