Georgia prepares "adequate response" to Russia on Putin's instructions on Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Tbilisi treats the Russian initiatives to set up legal relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia as a desire to infringe the sovereignty of Georgia. Abkhazia and South Ossetia find Putin's instructions to the Russian government to render essential support to Russian citizens living there to be an important step towards recognition of their independence.

To achieve this aim, the government of Russia was instructed to cooperate with the actual authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including organization of cooperation in trade and economic, social, scientific and technical areas, in the sphere of information, culture and education, including with attraction of Russian regions.

Tbilisi regards the actions of Russia on establishing legal relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia as an intention to infringe the sovereignty of Georgia, as Georgiy Baramidze, Georgian Minister for European Integration Matters, has declared.

"The attempts of the Russian party to establish legal relations with separatist regions of Georgia will receive adequate reaction from the government, the state and the people of Georgia. Russian leaders should know this and realize all the consequences of their provocative steps," the "Interfax" quotes Mr Baramidze as saying.