State Duma ratifies treaties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Today, the Russian State Duma has ratified the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which were signed in Moscow on September 17 and on October 20 brought to consideration of the Lower Chamber of the Parliament by President of Russia.

The texts of both documents are practically identical. The treaties lay a legal basis for deployment of Russian military units in the territory of the two breakaway republics, "whose presence is necessary for maintaining peace in the region and ensuring reliable safety."

The documents fix obligations on rendering mutual help should one of the parties become an object of attack. They also stipulate joint frontier guarding and interaction in fight on organized crime, international terrorism and illegal drug circulation.

The ITAR-TASS reports that cooperation in economic, social and humanitarian spheres is also envisioned.

We remind you that after signing the documents, the Frontier Service of the FSB (Federal Security Bureau) of the Russian Federation has taken the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia under guard. Shalva Pichkhadze, chairman of the organization "Georgia for NATO", asserts that the presence of foreign troops in the territory of Georgia is already a potential threat for the country's security.