US condemns military agreement between Russia and occupied Tskhinvali

The United States State Department Spokesperson has announced that "the United States condemns the Russian Federation's‎ decision to integrate military forces from Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia”, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported yesterday.

The RFE/RL also cited the State Department spokesperson saying that Washington's "position on South Ossetia and Abkhazia is clear – these regions are integral parts of Georgia."

The US statement refers to the recent agreement between Russia and de-facto authorities in Tskhinvali allowing South Ossetian troops to serve in the Russian Armed Forces.

A day prior to the US statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin asked his government to lead negotiations with de-facto South Ossetian officials to conclude the deal "to effectively incorporate the military of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region into the Russian armed forces' command structure”.

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

Last year Russia’s parliament ratified an illegal military cooperation agreement with Abkhazia - another Georgian region also occupied by Russia.