Russia moves to recognise Georgian rebel zones

MOSCOW (AFP) - Moscow moved closer Wednesday to recognising the independence of Georgian separatist regions, escalating a bruising international row over Russia’s assault on the ex-Soviet republic.

In Abkhazia, a strategically placed Black Sea province, the separatist parliament and president issued an appeal asking Russia to recognise their independence, an AFP correspondent said.

The leader of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, told Interfax news agency that his separatist region would issue a similar appeal soon.

The deputy speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper house, the Federation Council, announced an emergency session Monday to debate recognising Abkhazia and also South Ossetia - both under control of Russian troops since last week.

“The Federation Council is ready to recognise the independent status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia if that is what the people of these republics want,” Interfax news agency quoted council speaker Sergei Mironov as saying.

Recognition by Moscow of the two regions would deal pro-Western Georgia a huge blow, dramatically deepening a diplomatic crisis caused by Russia’s huge military incursion.