Russia draws criticism over decree on Georgian rebel regions

RUSSIA DEFIED the West by recognising the independence of the rebel Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia yesterday, and questioned the purpose of a "worrying" build-up of Nato warships in the Black Sea.

"I have signed decrees on the recognition by the Russian Federation of the independence of South Ossetia and the independence of Abkhazia," said Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. "Russia calls on other states to follow its example. This is a difficult choice, but this is the only chance to save people's lives."

The United States and the European Union condemned the move, which came less than three weeks after Russian tanks, troops and warplanes crushed a Georgian attempt to reassert control over South Ossetia following 16 years of de facto independence. "Abkhazia and South Ossetia are a part of the internationally recognised borders of Georgia and it's going to remain so," said US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

France, holder of the EU's rotating presidency, said it "firmly condemns this decision. It calls for a political solution to the conflicts in Georgia." German chancellor Angela Merkel called the Kremlin's decision "absolutely not acceptable" and British foreign secretary David Miliband said: "We fully support Georgia's independence and territorial integrity."

Mr Medvedev made the announcement at his villa in Sochi, around the Black Sea coast from Abkhazia and Poti, a Georgian port currently controlled by Russian troops.

Two US military vessels have scrapped a plan to dock in Poti today to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia, a source close to the US embassy in Tbilisi said. "The ships will not dock in Poti tomorrow," the source told Reuters news agency last night.

The prospect of US ships landing in a port controlled by Russian soldiers had alarmed observers, amid warnings from Moscow that the growing number of Nato warships in the Black Sea could create a flashpoint in waters Russian vessels also patrol. "The increase in Nato forces in the Black Sea is worrying us," claimed Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, adding that 10 Nato warships were already in the Black Sea and eight more were on their way.

When asked in a television interview if Russian troops in Poti would obstruct US vessels, Mr Medvedev replied: "There is no blockade. Any ship can get in - American and others are bringing in humanitarian cargoes. And what the Americans call humanitarian cargoes - of course, they are bringing in weapons." The White House denied the charge.

As many people in Abkhazia and South Ossetia celebrated the Kremlin's recognition of their independence, Tbilisi said the move confirmed that Russia's "invasion of Georgia was part of a broader, premeditated plan to redraw the map of Europe".

"Together we must stand united against this aggression and call on you for your assistance and immediate reaction," said President Mikheil Saakashvili. "Today the fate of Europe and the free world is unfortunately being played out in my small country."

Russia threatened to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after Kosovo won broad western backing for its split from Serbia in February. Moscow had already given citizenship to most residents of the two provinces and pledged protection if violence flared.

In recent months, Russia repaired roads and railways in the regions and held major military exercises near South Ossetia, in what Georgia called clear signs of imminent invasion.

Nato effectively gave the Kremlin the green light by refusing to invite Georgia to join the alliance at an April summit, many Tbilisi officials complain.

Russia insists it only moved into South Ossetia to halt a brutal Georgian onslaught that Mr Medvedev and other top officials have termed genocide and ethnic cleansing. The Kremlin, flush with income from huge exports of oil and gas to the West, has brushed off western warnings that its refusal to fully withdraw from Georgia could badly damage its relations with the EU, Nato and the World Trade Organisation.

"We're not afraid of anything [including] the prospect of a cold war," said Mr Medvedev.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin also condemned Russia's actions. "This deeply regrettable decision is contrary to the principles of Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity."