The Russians had no choice other than to recognise Abkhazia's and Ossetia's independence, had they not done so, further outbreaks of violence by Saakashvilli to bring the reluctant and protesting populations of both regions back under Georgian control would occur.

Populations of both regions have made it quite plain that they do not want to be a minority in a Georgian state where they are hated and depised by the Georgian population and would be treated as second class citizens subject at whim to atrocities and ethnic cleansing

In spite of the UN ruling on the sanctity and integrity of nation's borders, there must be cases where if this rule if blindly enforced it will result in further atrocities and bloodshed.

The borders of Abkhazia and south Otessia are configured in such a way in relation to Russia that independence under A Russian protectorate for the Russian speaking populations would be a natural thing.

The Kosovo Albanians are at the moment negotiating their own independence in the teeth of Serb opposition, a concession in the case of Russia's Recognition of Abkhazian and Ossetian independence could pave the way for Kosovan independence as the Serbs would no longer have the Russians in their side

Areas of land don't make countries, only people living within them create a nation through identity of language and culture.