Russia to continue to support south Ossetia and Abkhazia

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulatory messages to his counterparts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia Leonid Tibilov and Alexander Ankvab on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of Russia’s recognition of sovereignty of these republics, the Kremlin press service reported on Monday. “In the congratulatory messages the Russian president noted that quite difficult decisions, but the only correct ones, which were taken in August 2008 to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, were epoch-making for these young countries and gave an opportunity to them to choose their future independently,” the Russian presidential press service reported. “The Russian president praised highly the successes, which Abkhazia and South Ossetia had achieved in the last few years, in state construction and the strengthening of democratic institutions, the restoration of social and economic infrastructure and also noted the prerequisites, which are being developed for long-term development of the countries and a higher life level of their citizens,” the Kremlin press service said. Putin noted that Russia will continue to give an all-round aid and support to the two republics.