Russia trying to legitimize proxy regimes in the Caucasus

Russia is trying to legitimize the proxy regimes. This is stated in the commentary of the Georgian Foreign Ministry circulated in response to the order of the ringleader of the Kremlin regime Medvedev to establish a joint military base in the Tshivali region.

"Russia constantly tries to legitimize in any manner the presence of the proxy regimes set up by it on the occupied territories of Georgia. Medvedev's recent order serves this very goal", the comment says.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry thinks that "Russian attempts to justify its own criminal actions and to alter the legal status of Georgian occupied territories are doomed for failure from the very start".

"From the standpoint of international law, any "treaty" that has already been or may be concluded between Russia and the proxy regimes has no legal validity and is a priori null and void", the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

The commentary has also emphasized that "Russia would better focus more attention on its international obligations it is continuously violating". This commentary refers primarily to the 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement.

Medvedev ordered "to accept the offer of Russian government" about signing an agreement with South Ossetia about a joint Russian military occupation base on the territory of the Tskhinvali region, Russian sources reported.

In accordance with the Kremlin ringleader's order, the defense ministry together with the foreign ministry will hold formal talks with Tskhinvali and after "reaching an agreement" they will sign that agreement.

A similar agreement with Abkhazian authorities was signed on February 17, 2010 in Moscow. The document allows the armed forces of Russia to use the base "in conjunction with the armed forces of Abkhazia to protect the sovereignty and security of the republic, including countering international terrorist groups".

The agreement was concluded 49 years, with a possibility of its automatic renewal every subsequent 15 years.

The NATO condemned the agreement with Abkhazia. The alliance said that it does not recognize the document's legitimacy.

Department of Monitoring,