Georgia’s breakaway regions recognize Crimea vote

High officials of Georgia’s two breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognize the results of a referendum held in Crimea on March 16.

The final result of the controversial referendum saw 97 percent of voters support leaving Ukraine to join the Russian Federation.

Leader of the unrecognized state Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab said the referendum held in Crimea reflected the will of the multinational people of the peninsula.

As reported in news agency Interfax, Ankvab said: "This is a classic example of when the will of the people is above to all.”

"Abkhazia respects the will of Crimeans, [we] support and recognize their fateful choice [and] a nationwide solution is based not only on the historical past but on the modern political realities,” he told Interfax on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry of South Ossetia – another of Georgia’s breakaway regions - issued a statement on March 17 saying: "South Ossetia respects the right of population of Crimea to determine independently its fate”.

"It has to be noted the position of authorities in Kiev, who have refrained from attempts to forcefully hinder the population of Crimea to express its will,” South Ossetia’s Foreign Ministry said.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia are only recognized as independent nations by five countries - Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Tuvalu.