Russian President to visit occupied Abkhazia

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Russian occupied region of Georgia – Abkhazia on the ninth anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war, Russian news agency РБК said.

According to the news agency, within his short visit to Abkhazia, Putin will meet with de-facto President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba.

Representative of Russia’s State Duma Konstantin Zatulin said Putin’s visit is connected with the tense situation in Abkhazia and United States Vice President Mike Pence’s recent trip to Georgia.

• On his first official visit to Georgia earlier today Pence announced Trump will sign new sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea for their destructive actions, the bill adopted by Congress several days ago.
• He also said that his country "strongly condemns” Russia’s occupation of Georgian soil and supports the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Russia recognised Abkhazia and the other Georgian breakaway region of Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) as independent countries after a military armed conflict with Georgia in 2008.

As of today, only four countries recognise Georgia’s breakaway regions as independent republics; these are Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.