[1] On 25 August 2008 the Federation Council and State Duma passed motions calling upon President Medvedev to recognise the independence of the two regions and to establish diplomatic relations with them.

On 26 August 2008, President Medvedev signed decrees recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia[2] In his address to the Russian nation, Medvedev noted that he was guided by the provisions of the UN Charter, the 1970 Declaration on the Principles of International Law Governing Friendly Relations Between States, the CSCE Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and other fundamental international instruments in issuing the decree, and further stated, "(t)his is not an easy choice to make, but it represents the only possibility to save human lives.

"[3] The Russian recognition was condemned by the European Union, United States, NATO,[citation needed] and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,[citation needed] amongst others, with some calling for Russia to rescind its recognition.

[7] Akhba presented his credentials to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 16 January 2009.

[10] Russia plans on opening up a trade mission in Abkhazia in order to ease access to the local economy for Russian businesses.