Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued instructions to the government regarding his country's relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said Wednesday.
The instructions are aimed at providing assistance for the population of the two regions and Russian citizens living there in accordance with international law, a Russian Foreign Ministry official said.
"Our actions with regard to Abkhazia and South Ossetia do not mean that Russia has made a choice in favor of confrontation with Georgia. We support the lifting of all sanctions and restrictions, which hamper the socio-economic development of the region," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted the Russian diplomat as saying.
Putin's orders came after Russia moved to lift trade restrictions on Abkhazia and after the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, recommended the government consider recognizing the self-proclaimed republics, which are breakaway regions of Georgia. Source:Xinhua
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